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 26 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 James Zenner, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Military & Veterans Affairs. Zenner is an Army veteran of the war in Iraq.

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 rendition 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 Scott Alevy, a 1968 Lakewood High School graduate who knew Dennis from the time they were kids growing up in Lakewood. Alevy is a Vietnam veteran who just retired as the president of the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce.

The event is sponsored by the City of Lakewood in conjunction with American Legion Post 496 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.

This event is free and open to the public.