Community Corner

Memorial Day Observances in Menlo Park and on the Peninsula

Patch bring you a list of places where you can take a moment to remember those who died for our freedom, before sparking up the afternoon barbecue.

What is Memorial Day? In countless cemeteries across the country, and in town centers, people gather to honor those who died in service to our country.

For many, Monday's activities begin in the morning, before the ubiquitous picnics and barbeques, with a Memorial Day commemoration.

You don't need to go a national cemetery to pay your respects to those who have given their lives for our freedom.  But if you would like to do so, we've compiled a list of places on the Peninsula where you can.  

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  1. VA, Menlo Park Campus, Bldg 334 in the gym at 795 Willow Road, Menlo Park  - Veterans can partake in wreath making, jazz and memory sharing from 9 a.m.-noon.
  2.  695 Arastradero Rd, Palo Alto
    11 a.m. - Memorial Day service, chapel. This cemetery places 125 donated American flags along to make the "Avenue of Flags." They are usually flags that were on top of the casket of a serviceman or servicewoman, and were donated by the families.
  3. Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, 1100 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park
    Outdoor Mass - 11 am.  Partake in a Memorial Day Mass with Rev. William Myers.
  4. San Francisco National Cemetery Anza and Sheridan Avenues, The Presidio of San Francisco - 11 a.m. Program at National Cemetery including color guard, local dignitaries, and a 21-gun salute by U.S. Army Brigade, 75th Division.  At 12:45  you can take in a service at the Interfath Center of the Presidio Chapel.
  5. Union Cemetery Woodside Road, just east of El Camino Real, Redwood City.  10 a.m.  Memorial Day service will be held at Union Cemetery in Redwood City.

     

How is Memorial Day different from Veterans Day?

  • Memorial Day is a day to remember those that have died while in service.
  • Veterans Day is a day to honor and thank veterans both living and dead for their service.
  • Memorial Day was formally known as Decoration Day because of the practice of decorating gravesites.
  • Veterans Day is also know as Armistice Day when it commemorated the end of World War I, or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world.
  • Memorial Day was first celebrated in 1866.
  • Veterans Day was first celebrated in 1919.
     

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