Lakewood Memorial Day Ceremony 

May 29, 2023, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Del Valle Park Veterans Plaza
Woodruff Avenue and Henrilee Street
Lakewood, CA
lakewoodcity.org
Free, public invited 

The keynote speaker this year is the new Senior Naval Science Instructor at Lakewood High School and the leader of the school’s Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC). Command Master Chief Jorge Tapia (US Navy, Ret.) is a 24-year Navy veteran whose most recent assignment was at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station where he was the senior enlisted officer and advisor to the commanding officer and to weapon stations in the Pacific.

• Laying of wreaths at the memorial
• Remarks from keynote speaker
• Mayor 
• Annual reading of Dennis Lander's poem  The Boys of Del Valle Park will be done by Captain Don McMackin, U.S. Navy (Ret.), a veteran of Afghanistan and the former senior instructor of the Lakewood High School Naval JROTC.

• Nationally recognized Lakewood High School Naval Junior ROTC Flag Presentation

• Golden Sands Musical tribute and Taps
• A bagpiper playing  Amazing Grace concludes the ceremony

The event is sponsored by the City of Lakewood in conjunction with American Legion Post 496, Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Post 8615, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 19 and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 756.

Parking will be available on Arbor Road and the MacArthur Elementary School playground (enter from Centralia Street). Parking for persons with disabilities will be available on Henrilee Street just east of Woodruff Avenue.

In addition to a large tent with chairs, there is ample space for guests to bring their own lawn chairs. Please remember that dogs are not allowed at the park.

The Lakewood Veterans Memorial Plaza is open all afternoon on Memorial Day, which may provide a more casual, less crowded time for parking and viewing bricks and the memorial. The  veterans plaza is open seven days a week.

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.