Memorial Day to be commemorated throughout San Joaquin Valley

Communities throughout the Northern San Joaquin Valley will commemorate Memorial Day with events this weekend. Here are a few options:

Santa Nella: The San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery will offer a program to remember and honor all military members, active and nonactive. Scheduled keynote speakers include Rep. Jim Costa and Roger Duke of the veterans center in Modesto. The program begins at 10 a.m. at the cemetery, 32053 W. McCabe Road. Organizers advise early arrival to facilitate parking. To learn more, call the cemetery office at 209-854-1040.

Atwater: Castle Air Museum will hold Open Cockpit Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. There will be helicopter rides, make-and-take model building for kids, military and law enforcement displays, and a food court. Dozens of vintage aircraft will be open for viewing. Admission is $14 adults, $8 seniors (60 and over) and $5 for youths (6-17). Children under 5 and active-duty military personnel are admitted for free. The museum is at 5050 Santa Fe Drive. For more information, call 209-723-2178 or go to www.castleairmuseum.org.

Modesto: The Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion will conduct their annual drop of flowers from the Seventh Street bridge into the Tuolumne River to honor those lost at sea. The flower drop will take place at 9 a.m. Monday. A ceremony also is planned at Acacia Memorial Park, 801 Scenic Drive, at 11 a.m. Monday.

Riverbank: The city of Riverbank will have a “Memorial Day Salute to our Heroes” on Monday at 11:30 a.m. at the Riverbank War Memorial Wall in front of the Community Center at 3600 Santa Fe St. Organizers said Mayor Richard O’Brien will host the event and will place a wreath at the memorial wall. There will be light refreshments available prior to and after the event. For more information, call Luanne Bain at 209-863-7122.

Murphys: The Calaveras Community Band will present a Memorial Day concert under the direction of conductor Mic Harper on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Murphys Community Park, South Algiers Street near Main Street. There is no admission charge for the program, which will honor men and women who have served in the armed forces in the past and those stationed around the world. The band, which traces its history to California’s Gold Rush days, will perform a mixture of patriotic songs, marches, jazz, Latin music and some instrumental opera.

Hughson: Lakewood Memorial Park, at 900 Santa Fe Ave., will have an event at 10:30 a.m. Monday. For more information, call 209-883-4465.

Manteca: The Not Forgotten Memorial Day Weekend in Woodward Park will include flyovers, performances, events and demonstrations. For a full list of scheduled events, go to thememorialweekend.org.

Patterson: The American Heritage Girls and Boy Scout Troops 81 and 82 will be hosting a Memorial Day ceremony at the Patterson Cemetery District at 10800 Highway 33 at 10 a.m. Monday. A flag ceremony will be performed by the Patterson Boy Scout troops.

Oakdale: Veterans of Foreign Wars Romain Shell Post 2922 of Oakdale will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at Citizens Cemetery, East J Street and Sierra Road.

Turlock: A ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. at Turlock Memorial Park, 425 N. Soderquist Road.

This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 3:55 PM with the headline "Memorial Day to be commemorated throughout San Joaquin Valley."