8 Ways To Observe Memorial Day Across The Bay

May 25 is Memorial Day when Americans pay tribute to the men and women who sacrificed their lives while serving their country. Despite its somber roots, Memorial Day today is a celebration of freedom; full of events, parades, music, and tributes. Here are eight ways to observe this special day.

1. Mill Valley Memorial Day Parade
Established in 1992, it’s the City’s biggest community event of the year. Enjoy a pancake breakfast from the Volunteer Firefighters before the parade and Kiddo! Carnival afterwards.
At Throckmorton Ave. & Old Mill St., Mill Valley 94941. Free.

2. Memorial Day Services
The Marin County Memorial Day observance, conducted by Marin County United Veterans Council, will feature music, remembrance program, flag displays and wreath-laying ceremonies, Marin Civic Center, San Rafael.

3. Memorial Day Celebration
Join veterans, families, and the community to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and the 40th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. Grand March featuring the 191st Army Band - 10:30 am, 21-Gun Salute with the U.S. Army’s 75th Pacific Division - Noon, Presidio Officers’ Club, 50 Moraga Avenue.

4. United Veterans Council of Santa Clara County Memorial Day Celebration
Public ceremony at Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, California. Local Boy and Girl Scouts place 3,600 American flags at the headstones of veterans of all wars in six burial plots: the Veteran’s Plot, Field of Honor Plot, Spanish American War Plot, two Civil War Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Plots and Women’s Relief Corps GAR Auxiliary Plot. The UVC Memorial Day Ceremony is held at the Veteran’s Plot at 11 am and includes the posting of military and veteran organization colors, placing of wreaths, a rifle salute and playing of Taps.

5. Alameda Veterans Memorial Park
Come on out for this patriotic holiday and celebrate with our county’s heroes. Veterans Circle in Alameda.

6. USS Hornet Aircraft Carrier
A special Memorial Day ceremony honoring those who gave their lives for freedom and country will begin at 1:00pm in Hangar Bay 3. This will include a memorial wreath ceremony with a Girl Scout color guard, an invocation and benediction by Chaplain John Baldwin, CAPT, CHC, USN (Ret), and procession to the wreath tossing. There will also be performances by the Hornet Band and the Watsonville Band, beginning at 11 a.m.

7. Mountain View Cemetery
Complimentary refreshments will follow the ceremony. Docent Dennis Evanosky will lead a guided tour of the refurbished Civil War plot and other areas of notables that are buried in the cemetery. Join us in remembering our veterans on this special day! Oakland.

8. Vietnam Veterans of Diablo Valley
Check website for more information. Oak Hill Park, Danville.