From flyovers to free BBQs, here are Memorial Day ceremonies taking place in SLO County
Community members will gather across San Luis Obispo County this Memorial Day weekend to honor fallen military service members.
Here are some of the ceremonies planned.
All events are free unless otherwise noted.
Atascadero
The Atascadero Veterans Memorial Foundation will host its annual Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at the Faces of Freedom Veterans Memorial near Atascadero Lake Park.
In addition to a speech by U.S. Navy Cmdr. David Brooks, the event features a Welcome Home Military Heroes flag line and color guard accompanied by Central Coast Pipes and Drums. Members of the Atascadero High School Choir will sing the national anthem, with “Taps” played on the tone chimes by the Joyful Voices For Jesus group.
Family members will also lay a wreath in memory of Navy Lt. Cmdr. Sherman “Sherm” Smoot, who died in a plane crash in September 2022.
Three planes piloted by local veterans will soar over the Atascadero ceremony around 11 a.m. in a missing man formation as part of Estrella Warbirds Museum’s Freedom Flight program.
This year, no barbecue will follow the event, according to Cheryl Hertan. Contact her at 805-235-8567 or cheryl@cherylann.net for more information.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2814 will offer graveside services at 11 a.m. at Atascadero Pine Mountain Cemetery off Highway 41.
An open house lunch for the public will start at 12:30 p.m. at VFW headquarters, 9555 Morro Road in Atascadero, featuring complimentary hamburgers, hotdogs and potluck side dishes and dessert.
Cayucos
Community members will gather at the base of the Cayucos Pier at 3 p.m. Monday for a special event honoring military service members, civilians and fishermen lost at sea hosted by a variety of nonprofits, businesses and individuals.
James Murphy will officiate at the event, which includes Coast Guard Color Guard, a MIA/POW ceremony with Adrian Hurtado, military and other music, speakers, prayers and tolling of the bells.
Ending the event will be a walk to the end of the Cayucos Pier where a wreath will be ceremoniously tossed into the ocean in remembrance of those lost at sea. An Estrella Warbirds flyover is expected about 4 p.m.
Cambria
American Legion Post No. 432 will sponsor an hour-long event beginning at 11 a.m. at the flag stand area of the Veterans Memorial Building, 1000 Main St., with seating provided for about 100 people.
The keynote speaker will be veteran Robert Tolan, Jr., leader of Welcome Military Heroes and Honor Flight Central Coast, California. The event will feature patriotic choral music and a remembrance ceremony.
The recipient of the annual Mel McColloch award will also be announced and honored during the event.
Following the ceremony, the Sons of the Legion and the Auxiliary will provide a barbecue. A $5 donation is requested.
For more information, call 805-909-8163.
Los Osos
Los Osos Valley Memorial Park will host Memorial Day weekend ceremonies at 2260 Los Osos Valley Road on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Saturday at 8 a.m., the public is invited to help place flags on veterans’ graves. The Avenue of the Flags will be set up. A doughnut breakfast will be served.
Sunday at 7 p.m., luminaries will be lit and guests are invited to visit and walk in the park at sunset and during the evening.
The Memorial Day ceremony, which will run 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will feature a guest speaker, a band and vocalist, other guests including first responders and additional events. A free hot dog lunch will be provided.
For more information, call 805-528-1500 or email Dalee.Turner@dignitymemorial.com.
Oceano
The Oceano Train Depot isn’t hosting a formal ceremony this year, due to the recent death of the event’s organizer.
The depot, located at 1650 Front St., will be open from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday with exhibits and memorabilia honoring fallen service members.
Call 805-489-5446 for more information.
Paso Robles
The Paso Robles District Cemetery, located at 45 Nacimiento Lake Drive, will kick off its Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. Monday in front of the office area. The ceremony is dedicated to the memory of Thomas A. Flynn.
Skip Bellinghausen will serve as master of ceremonies for the event, which will feature a uniformed Camp Roberts honor guard and Supervisor John Peschong and Bellinghausen as the guest speakers.
There’ll be a rendition of Taps, American Legion Riders Chapter No. 50 will raise the flag and local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Laurene McCoy will offer the invocation and closing prayer.
An Estrella Warbirds flyover is expected toward the end of the ceremony, around 11:50 a.m.
For more information, call 805-238-4544.
Estrella Warbirds Museum, located at 4251 Dry Creek Road in Paso Robles, will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday. Call 805-238-9317 for details.
Pismo Beach
A Memorial Day ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Monday on the Pismo Beach Pier Promenade at 101 Pomeroy Ave.
Representatives of six military branches will attend and four of them will speak.
Pismo Beach Police Department and Cal Fire will be represented. Mayor Ed Waage is expected to do the official welcome, and there wil be a rifle volley, “Taps” and wreath presentation.
Call 805-773-7034 for more information.
San Luis Obispo
Volunteers can join American Legion Post No. 66 on Saturday to place American flags on the graves of veterans at three cemeteries in San Luis Obispo.
They’ll gather at 8 a.m. at San Luis Cemetery at the corner of South Higuera Street and Elks Lane.
The Post also needs volunteers to collect the flags starting at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day.
On Monday, the American Legion post and the Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum will host the annual Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony at the museum, 801 Grand Ave.
Navy Vice Adm. William Bowes, a Vietnam veteran, is the guest speaker for the hour-long ceremony that starts at 11 a.m.
The event includes the Sea Cadets Color Guard flag presentation, a recitation by Boy Scouts Troop 322 about the history of the American Flag, an Armed Forces medley and “Taps” played by the Cal Poly Brass Quintet and a reading of the Gettysburg Address.
A $12 tri-tip sandwich lunch follows at noon at the post’s headquarters at 1661 Mill St. It’s free for veterans with valid ID, and is open to the public; the Post advises buying tickets in advance (call ticket coordinator at 805-459-4015). Funds raised help send students to California Boys and Girls State. Email Rick Pushies at rpushies@yahoo.com for details.
The Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum will be open for free tours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday.
Located at 801 Grand Ave., the museum will feature a special “Lost at Sea: Loss and Remembrance” exhibit about “perilous military conflicts and natural disasters above and below the sea.” Three scheduled exhibit talks will happen at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. (The exhibit will remain through the summer.)
For more information, call 805-543-1763 or email ccvmm.programs@gmail.com.
Santa Margarita
Santa Margarita Cemetery, at 606 E Pozo Road, will hold a ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Monday with a special tribute to two World War II veterans who died in the past six months.
The Estrella Warbirds are scheduled to fly over at about 11:10 a.m. that day.
Templeton American Legion Post No. 220 will present a ceremonial color guard at noon Saturday and Sunday at the Santa Margarita Ranch headquarters, 9000 Yerba Buena Drive, during the Best of the West display of thousands of old tractors.
Templeton
American Legion Post No. 220 will host a brief Memorial Day service at the columbarium area at Templeton District Cemetery, 100 Templeton Cemetery Road, starting at 11 a.m. Monday.
There’ll be a 21-gun salute, “Taps” and a short prayer. The Estrella Warbirds in the missing man formation will fly over the Templeton cemetery at about 11:07 a.m.
At noon, 200 tickets will be available for a chicken dinner to raise funds to send two students to Boys State, which is now open to young men and women.
For more information, call 805-434-3314.
