Annual Memorial Day Ceremony, Tri-tip BBQ, and Special Exhibit

The Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum (CCVMM) will co-host their annual Memorial Day Ceremony & BBQ with American Legion Post 66. San Luis Obispo County residents and visitors of all ages will come together on this special day, to honor and remember..

Monday, May 27th, 2024, at 11:00 am, located at 801 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo.

Schedule Details:
11:00 am – 12:00 pm, Memorial Day Ceremony (outside)
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm, BBQ Lunch; $15 Tri-tip while supplies last
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm, “WWII In The Philippines” Exhibit Talk
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm, “WWII In The Philippines” Exhibit Talk

Gather with us on Memorial Day 2024 to honor and remember.

The Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum will be open on Memorial Day from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm.

The 11:00 am ceremony takes place outside in front of the American Legion, Post 66, located behind the SLO Veterans Building (SLO Vets Hall) at 801 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo. This annual remembrance ceremony is dedicated to honoring the men and women of San Luis Obispo County and across the nation, who died while serving in the U.S. Military.

The ceremony includes presentation of colors by the Sea Cadets Color Guard, The History of the American Flag by the Boy Scouts, the Gettysburg Address, and the laying of a memorial wreath. National Anthem and patriotic music performed live by Central Coast Harmony Chorus.

Guest speaker Rosalie Salutan Marquez, President of the Filipino American National Historical Society, Central Coast of California Chapter, (FANHS-CCCC) will reflect on the service and sacrifice of our Filipino Americans during the conflicts of WWII in the Philippines.

Following the ceremony, a BBQ Lunch is served from 12pm to 2pm, or until supplies run out. Lunch is free to Veterans with a valid ID and $15 for all else. Lunch includes a tri-tip sandwich with the sandwich, coleslaw, chips, cookie and water.

Pre-sale lunch tickets can be reserved prior to the event by calling call the American Legion Post 66, BBQ ticket coordinator at (805) 459-4015.  BBQ Lunch tickets will be available to purchase at the event, until supplies run out.   It is recommended to reserve your tickets ahead of time. All lunch proceeds benefit the American Legion, Post 66.

The Veterans Museum, located onsite,  will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, with a new, temporary exhibit on display, “WWII in the Philippines” honoring the service and sacrifice of American and Filipino POWs and all those involved in the Philippines conflicts.

This special exhibit honors Filipinos and Americans involved with the conflicts in the Philippines including the Battle of Bataan, The Bataan Death March, 1st and 2nd Filipino Infantry Regiments, and the POW experience of thousands of surrendered troops.

On Memorial Day, The museum will also provide two scheduled Exhibit Talks on Memorial Day at 1:00 pm & 2:00 pm, each with a guest speaker.

The exhibit talks will include introductions to upcoming museum speakers in our 2024 Speaker Series.

• The 1:00 p.m. Exhibit Talk in the museum will introduce Kenneth Murphy, who co-authored the book, “When Men Must Live” a , a compelling true life saga of the trials, tribulations and triumphs of his father James T. Murphy, who was taken captive by Japanese Imperial Forces for 3.5 years.

• The 2:00 p.m. exhibit talk will introduce local historian, Erik F. Brun who will give a brief review on the 1st and 2nd Filipino Infantry Regiments and the local history of the 1st Filipino Infantry Battalion who trained at Camp San Luis Obispo.

For questions about the event call the Veterans Museum at (805) 543-1763 or the American Legion, Post 66 (805) 543-6445. You can also send inquiries by email to [email protected].