Memorial Day Commemoration

Lakewood residents are invited to join in the city’s annual tribute to the men and women who have sacrificed their lives while serving in the United States armed forces, as well as to honor the members of local veterans organizations who have died during the past year.

The Memorial Day ceremony will take place on Monday, May 29 at 11 a.m. at the Lakewood Veterans Memorial Plaza at Del Valle Park, located at Woodruff Avenue and Henrilee Street.

The keynote speaker this year will be Command Master Chief Jorge Tapia (US Navy, Ret.).

Master Chief Tapia 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). He 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.

The nationally recognized Lakewood High School Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps will present our nation’s flag and the Golden Sands Chorus will provide a musical tribute. A stirring performance of “Taps” will be performed live, along with a bagpiper playing “Amazing Grace” as the ceremony concludes.

The 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.     

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

Parking will be available around the park, with disabled parking on the Woodruff Avenue service road immediately adjacent to the memorial. Neighboring residents are encouraged to walk to the park.

In addition to a large tent with chairs, there is ample space for guests to bring their own lawn chairs. 

When

Location

Del Valle Park - Veterans Memorial Plaza, 5939 Henrilee St., Lakewood, 90713, View Map