Here’s a roundup of Memorial Day events in SLO County
Memorial Day weekend presents the unusual challenge of hosting ceremonies amid the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing measures.
But while some local events have been canceled — including traditional ceremonies in Cambria, Cayucos, Paso Robles and Templeton — communities are still finding ways to commemorate the holiday.
KVEC News Talk 920 AM will host a virtual countywide Memorial Day ceremony from noon to 1 p.m. Monday with a keynote speech by SLO County District Attorney Dan Dow, a U.S. Army veteran.
Video of the virtual ceremony, which will include a performance of the national anthem by Rebecca McKinley of Arroyo Grande, can be viewed on the 920 KVEC app, 920KVEC.com or live via the KVEC Facebook page.
The audio portion will also be simulcast on 98.1 FM, KJUG.
Military aircraft with the Estrella Warbird Museum’s Freedom Flight group will conduct flyovers at three San Luis Obispo County locations on Monday between 11 a.m. and 11:34 a.m., said George Marrett, one of the three participating pilots.
“It will be quite different than the usual number of ceremonies, but we’ll be doing flights over three ceremonies this year, weather permitting,” Marrett said.
“It could depend on fog,” he added, but the planes plan to fly over ceremonies at Los Osos Valley Mortuary and Memorial Park; San Luis Obispo Veterans Memorial Hall and Mechanics Bank on East Grand Avenue in Arroyo Grande.
Arroyo Grande
Classic car owners are encouraged to take part in the Arroyo Grande Memorial Virtual Ceremony and Vehicle Salute from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Mechanics Bank at 1026 East Grand Ave. in Arroyo Grande.
The Welcome Home Military Organizers event features a virtual ceremony at 11:30 a.m. to be broadcast live on the Welcome Home Military Heroes Facebook page, with speakers including San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Lynn Compton.
Airplanes are scheduled to fly over the ceremony at 11:34 a.m. A Memorial Day vehicle salute is scheduled for noon with an advance briefing by Robert Tolan on the Welcome Home Military Heroes Facebook live page.
For more information, go to https://www.welcomehomemilitaryheroes.org/event/memorial-day-2020/.
Los Osos
A drive-through ceremony and hot dog lunch will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Monday at Los Osos Valley Mortuary and Memorial Park at 2260 Los Osos Valley Road. People are encouraged to decorate their cars and place flowers on graves of loved ones.
A Freedom Flight flyover is scheduled to take place at 11 a.m.
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Paso Robles
The annual ceremony at Paso Robles District Cemetery at 45 Nacimiento Lake Drive has been canceled.
Flags will be placed at every marked veteran’s grave throughout the three-day Memorial Day weekend, according to cemetery officials. The Avenue of the Flags will see all 150 flags hoisted from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, and visitors are encouraged to walk or drive through the cemetery, practicing social distancing.
Pismo Beach
The city will host its annual Memorial Day Ceremony virtually this year with the inclusion of the Pismo Beach Honor Guard and CAL FIRE.
A 3:40-second video will be posted on the following: Pismo Beach Channel 20 (Spectrum/Charter viewers); Pismo Beach YouTube Channel; https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOF2CA1pwtYn4xq41No0MeA; and Pismo Beach Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CityofPismoBeach/.
San Luis Obispo
A Memorial Day remembrance ceremony and service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in the front of the American Legion Post located behind the San Luis Obispo Veterans Memorial Hall, 1661 Mill St. San Luis Obispo.
People can attend in parked vehicles, and the event will be broadcast live on Facebook.
A link to the Facebook Live broadcast will be available on the Post 66, The American Legion, San Luis Obispo Facebook page on Memorial Day. For more information call 805-441-1405.
Planes are scheduled to fly over the event around 11:15 a.m.
The San Luis Obispo Vet Center is holding a drive-through event at 1070 Southwood Drive from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday.
Participants may bring flowers to be placed at the base of the Vet Center flagpole in veterans’ honor. Resource bags will be handed out using personal protective gear with information and supplies to help keep people healthy during the coronavirus pandemic.
For more information call 805-782-9101.
SLO Sweets of San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles also are giving a free chocolate treat to all past and present service men and women on Friday through Monday of Memorial Day Weekend. A service ID card or another proof of military service must be presented.
This story was originally published May 22, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
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