Memorial Day celebrations, solemn observances in the High Desert and mountain communities
Several organizations across the High Desert and local mountain communities have scheduled Memorial Day celebrations and solemn observances to pay tribute to the fallen men and women of the U.S. military.
Apple Valley
The Town of Apple Valley Recreation Department will host a Summer Kick-Off event from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at Civic Center Park, 14955 Dale Evans Parkway. The event includes a 5K/10K Run, Kids 1K Run, games, food trucks, activities, and a public swim. For more information, call 760-240-7880 or visit AVRecreation.org.
Barstow
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2143 of Barstow will host a Memorial Day Service at 11 a.m. on Monday at Mountain View Cemetery, 37067 Irwin Road in Barstow. Those scheduled to appear include city and Fort Irwin officials, the Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow commander, and color guard. For more information, call 760-590-0431.
Big Bear
The Big Bear Lake Grill N Chill BBQ Festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the Bartlett Events Area at 630 Bartlett Road in Big Bear Lake. The event features a KCBS BBQ State Championship Cook-Off, live music, craft brews, and much more. For more information, visit bigbear.com
The annual Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday at Veterans Park at 40870 Big Bear Boulevard. The event is hosted by the City of Big Bear Lake and American Legion Post 584.
The Annual Big Bear Lake Maifest is scheduled from 1 to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the Big Bear Convention Center, 42900 Big Bear Boulevard in Big Bear. The event is considered the little sister to Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest. The Maifest will include traditional German beer, drinks, and food, Also, live music, a variety of entertainment, kids activities, log sawing, contests, stein holding competitions, corn hole, and more.
Visit Big Bear has decided to forgo its annual fireworks for a silent Drone Light Show to protect the vulnerable young eaglet “Spirit,” who was born/hatched on March 3 to parents bald eagle parents Jackie and Shadow in Big Bear Lake. The 15-minute show will begin around 9 p.m. and will be visible from the north and south shores of the lake.
Lucerne Valley
A one-hour Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on Monday at Lucerne Valley Memorial Park. The event will be held at the Gazebo in the back of the cemetery property at 32533 Highway 18.
Oro Grande
A Memorial Day Service will be held from 8 to 10 a.m on Monday at the historic Oro Grande Cemetery located at 1414 Olive St. in Oro Grande.
Phelan
Haven for Horses will host a Memorial Day Tribute from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday at 4258 Salerno Road in Phelan. The free event will include music, vendors, interactions with horses, and live demonstrations.
Stater Bros. Markets
At 3 p.m. Monday, every Stater Bros. store manager will ask all customers and employees inside to pause for a one-minute moment of silence to honor and remember those who died while serving their country.
Bugles Across America has partnered with Stater Bros. to arrange for a bugler to play a live rendition of Taps at selected stores. No High Desert stores will participate.
"Having been founded by veterans, Cleo and Leo Stater, Stater Bros. Markets is grateful to our service members, past and present, and remembers those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country," said Stater Bros. CEO Pete Van Helden.
Victorville
Sunland Ford will host the 15th Annual Memorial Weekend Charity Car and Bike Show from 9 a..m to 1 p.m. on Saturday at the dealership, 15330 Palmdale Road in Victorville. Presented by High Desert Fords and Mustangs club, the event will include food, vendors, DJ KevDog, and live music by The Modd Rodds. All proceeds from the event will support local charities.
Wrightwood
The tri-communities of Wrightwood, Phelan, and Piñon Hills will gather at 11 a.m. Monday for the 14th annual Veterans Day Ceremony at the Wrightwood Veterans Memorial, 1274 Evergreen Road in Wrightwood.
Memorial Day
The honoring of fallen military personnel began as Decoration Day after the Civil War when families of both Union and Confederate forces began to decorate the graves of those who died.
This eventually became known as Memorial Day and was standardized to be celebrated on the last Monday in May by an act of Congress in 1968.
The list of Memorial Day events will be updated as more information becomes available.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Memorial Day events in the High Desert, Big Bear and Wrightwood
