Events

72nd Annual Memorial Day Ceremony

Monday, May 25, 2026 · 11:00AM

📍 Harbor Lawn – Mt. Olive Memorial Park, 1625 Gisler Ave, Costa Mesa

71st Annual Memorial Day

Monday, May 26, 2025

70th Annual Memorial Day

Monday, May 27, 2024

69th Annual Memorial Day

Monday, May 29, 2023

National Vietnam War Veterans Day

Wednesday, March 29, 2023 · 9:00AM – 11:00AM

📍 Huntington Beach Central Library 7111 Tabert Ave., Huntington Beach 92648

68th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony

Monday, May 30, 2022

The Untold Military History Story

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Gary Tegel, Senior Chief, U.S. Navy

Memorial Day Ceremony – Freedom Committee of Orange County, Harbor Lawn Mt. Olive Mem Park

Monday, May 31, 2021

Dancing in Elephant Grass

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Douglas Milliken, Sergeant, U.S. Army, Vietnam War

Sinking of the Gambier Bay, 1944, Battle of Leyte

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Robert Olds, Captain, U.S. Navy

1967 Attack on U.S.S Liberty by Israeli Defense Forces

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Don Pageler, Crypto Technician, U.S. Navy

National Vietnam War Veterans Day

Monday, March 29, 2021

National Vietnam War Veterans Day – Hammond Salley, Major, U.S. Army

Monday, March 29, 2021

Medal of Honor Day – Cathy Ehlere Metcalf, MOH Foundation, Daughter, MOH Walter Ehlers

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

WWI

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Chase Wickersham, 1st Lieutenant, U.S. Army

Every Marine a Rifleman

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Dwight Hanson, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Gulf War

Dress Blues Inspection & Presentation, U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corp

Saturday, February 13, 2021

Gary Tegel, Senior Chief, U.S. Navy

Air Defense of CONUS, Cold War

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Al Harvard, Major, U.S. Army

C-141 Flying Route: USA-Vietnam 1967-71; + FAC 50th Anniversary

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

William Mall, Major General, U.S. Air Force, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada

The Jets don’t Fly unless the Oiler comes by!

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Robert Olds, Captain, U.S. Navy, Cold War

A Secret War

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

John Stryker “Tilt” Meyer, S/Sgt, U.S. Army, Vietnam War

Artillery Supported by Quad 50’s and Dusters

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Chase Wickersham, 1st Lt., U.S. Army, Vietnam War

Veterans Day

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

honoring 200 veterans and featuring Freedom Committee WWII veteran David Hayward, B-25 pilot, 1st Lt., U.S. Army Air Force, WWII

Adventures in Reconnaissance

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

James Lockhart, Major, U.S. Army, Vietnam War

Grunts in the Jungle

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Frank Pangborn, 1st Lt., U.S. Army, Vietnam War

Flying CH-47 Chinook Helicopter in Combat

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

John Hendrickson, Lt. Col., U.S. Army, Vietnam War

U.S. Army Medic

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Wallace Ziegler, Sp-4, U.S. Army, Vietnam War

Missile Systems, U.S. Navy

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

George Chambers, FTCS, U.S. Navy, Cold War

Army Helicopter Pilot, Vietnam, ‘64-‘65

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Pat McLarney, Chief Warrant Officer 2, U.S. Army

Life as an Infantryman

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Doug Milliken, Sergeant, U.S. Army, Vietnam

My Career in the U.S. Navy

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Gary Tegel, Senior Chief, U.S. Navy

Minuteman Missile Launch Officer

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Kenneth Cornelison, Captain, U.S. Air Force, Cold War

Flag Day Ceremony, Anaheim

Monday, June 15, 2020

Representation by Victor Real, Sergeant E-4, U.S. Marine Corps

My Cold War Career

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Wayne Scott, Colonel, U.S. Air Force

Memorial Day Ceremony – Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive Memorial Park, Costa Mesa

Monday, May 25, 2020

Presidential Helicopter Service

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Victor Real, Sergeant E-4, U.S. Marine Corps

Experiences of a Chopper Pilot in Vietnam

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

James Grimm, Chief Warrant Officer 2, U.S. Army

Siege of Khe Sanh

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Army combat experiences, Hamm Salley, Major, U.S. Army

A Medical Specialist in Vietnam

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Account of Robert Casillas, E-5, U.S. Army

Combat Missions of a Tank Commander

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Dennis Lumley, E-4, U.S. Army, Vietnam War

Never Again

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Pearl Harbor Survivor John A. Hughes, Major, U.S. Marine Corps, WWII, South Pacific, interviewed by Dwight Hanson, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps

The Ghost Squadron of Vietnam

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Bob Olds, Captain, U.S. Navy; Capt. Steve Tucker, Captain, U.S. Marines

Boot Camp & Platoon 353

Monday, December 9, 2019

Vietnam experiences of David H Coop, Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps

Destroyers and What I Did on One Tin Can

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Lucky Walch, Quartermaster E-3, U.S. Navy, U.S.S. Jenkins

Medical Expertise in Vietnam

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Wallace “Wally” Ziegler, Spec. 4, Medic, U.S. Army

U.S. Army Nurse Corps, Battle of the Bulge

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Muriel Philips “Phil” Engelman, 1st Lt., U.S. Army Nurse Corps, WWII

Hail to the Heroes – Pacific Symphony concert honoring veterans and active-duty service members, Pacific Amphitheatre, Costa Mesa

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Understanding the High Cost of Freedom

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Graves registration, George Ciampa, Pfc, U.S. Army, WWII

Nuke Alert & Combat Missions

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Vietnam experiences of Gary Barnhill, Captain, Fighter Pilot, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam

Nuvision Freedom Ride and BBQ – Nuvision Credit Union – 4th annual Freedom Ride – Huntington Beach – San Juan Capistrano – Cooks Corner, to honor those who fought and continue to fight for our freedom. Nuvision has been supporting our military and veterans for 80 years. Attendance: 225 riders. Nuvision donation: $5,500 to support The Freedom Committee of Orange County’s “Living History Program.”

Thursday, July 4, 2019

1942 Experiences of Training at Santa Ana Army Air Base, Orange County

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Memories of training, early World War II, David K. Hayward, 1st Lt., U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, China-Burma-India.

Memorial Day Event – Freedom Committee / Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation, Harbor Lawn-Mt Olive Memorial Park, Costa Mesa

Monday, May 27, 2019

Company Commander Mechanized Infantry

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

William Francis Pavone, Jr., 1st Lt., Infantry, Vietnam

The Wall that Heals – The Vietnam War Memorial Wall, ¾ Replica, Balearic Park, Costa Mesa. Sponsored by The Freedom Committee of Orange County and Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation. Opening day speaker William B. Mall, Major General, U.S. Air Force. Closing day speaker Sgt. Frank Orzio, U.S. Army

April 10–14, 2019

Infantry Playground for Pawns

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Kirby Matter, 1st Lt., U.S. Army, Vietnam War

Illustrating the War

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Vietnam War through artwork, Edward J. “Ed” Bowen, SP-4, U.S. Army

Boot Camp & Platoon 353

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

David Coop, Lance Corporal, Infantry, U.S. Marine Corps

Battle of the Bulge

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Memories of World War II, Fred Whitaker, Corporal, U.S. Army

Experiences of a Vietnam War Helicopter Pilot

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Patrick McLarney, Chief Warrant Officer 2, U.S. Army

Air Defense in the Cold War

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

David Wensley, Captain, U.S. Air Force

Marine One Presidential Helicopter

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Victor Pavo Real, Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps

POW, Battle of the Bulge

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

George Emerson, Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Force

Combat Communication Challenges

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Marc Lee Flanary, SP-5, U.S. Army

Oil Tenders, USS Hassayampa AO-145

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Robert “Bob” Olds, Captain, U.S. Navy

Memorial Day Event – Freedom Committee / Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation, Harbor Lawn-Mt Olive Memorial Park, Costa Mesa

Monday, May 28, 2018

Seal Selection and Training

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Thomas Weaver, Captain, U.S. Navy

Defending Continental US During Cold War Defense

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Alan “Al” Harvard, Major, U.S. Army

Grunts in the Vietnam Jungle

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Frank Pangborn, 1st Lieutenant, U.S. Army

MIA TSgt Chuck Johnston

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

William “Bill” Mall, Major General, U.S. Air Force

Tet Offensive & Battle of Khe Sahn

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Steve Tucker, Captain, U.S. Air Force

Pearl Harbor and the Pacific War

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Howard C. Bender, USN, Chief Yeoman, U.S. Navy, WWII, U.S.S. Maryland, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Pacific Theater

Pilot CH-46 Vietnam, Golden Age of Aviation

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Benjamin L. Williams, Lt. Col., U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam War

My Navy Pilot and Combat Missions in Iraq and Afghanistan

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Roderick “Hot Rod” Kurtz, Lt. Commander, U.S. Navy, Iraq and Afghanistan

Single Bomber Mission

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

David “Dave” K. Hayward, 1st Lt. U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, China-India-Burma, Bomber Pilot

Really Understanding the High Cost of Freedom!

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

George Ciampa, Pfc, U.S. Army, WWII, Europe, Graves Registration

Vietnam-Daily Reconnaissance

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Douglas Allen Milliken, Sergeant, U.S. Army, Infantry, Vietnam War

Shipboard Experiences 1942-1946

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Jack Dee Linscott, GM-2, U.S. Navy, WWII, South Pacific

WWII and George S. Patton

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Richard “Dick” O’Brien, Sergeant, U.S. Army, WWII, Europe, Infantry

Flying 35 Missions in WWII

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Roberto “Bob” Ruiz, 1st Lt., U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, Europe, B-24 Liberator Pilot

Combat Flying in the South Pacific Theater during WWII

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Theodore “Ted” Tanner, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, South Pacific, Bomber Pilot

Life Aboard the Philippine Sea

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

William “Bill” Schultz, AT2e, U.S. Navy, WWII, Pacific

Carrier Warfare in the Pacific, 1942-46

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Roderick “Rod” McChesney, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, WWII, South Pacific, Carrier Aviator

Pearl Harbor Survivors

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Howard C. Bender, Chief Yeoman, U.S. Navy, WWII, U.S.S. Maryland, PHS, South Pacific and John A. Hughes, Major, U.S. Marine Corps, WWII, PHS, South Pacific, Aviator

Helicopter Pilot Vietnam

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Sven A. Akesson, CW04, U.S. Army, Vietnam

Fighter Pilot- WWII, Korea and Vietnam

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Sidney M. Yahn, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army Air Force

Live and Let Live

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Robert “Bob” Friend, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, European Theater

A B-25 pilot in China-Burma-India, 1943-1944

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

David K. Hayward, 1st Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Force, WWII

Siege at Khe Sanh

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Hammond “Ham” Salley, Major, U.S. Army, Infantry, Vietnam

A Helicopter Pilot in Vietnam, 1965

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Malcolm Campbell, CWO4, U.S. Army

Ace in a Day

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Willis “Bill” Hardy, Colonel, U.S. Navy, WWII, Aviator

My Military Career during the Cold War

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Richard “Dick” M. Grabow, Colonel, U.S. Army, Infantry, Germany

Flak, Fighters, And Boiled Potatoes

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Robert D. Davis, Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, B-24 Bomber, Gunner, POW, 500-mile walk

Maritime Aviation, Anti-Submarine, Artic Flights & Replenishment at Sea

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Robert Olds, Captain, U.S. Navy, Cold War, Naval Aviator, Ships Captain

A Corpsman in Vietnam

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

James T. Pinnix, Spec 5, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class, U.S. Navy, Vietnam

Pearl Harbor and the Pacific War

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Howard C. Bender, Chief Yeoman, U.S. Navy, WWII, South Pacific, Pearl Harbor Survivor

Victory over Japan (VJ Day) Reunion Beijing, China

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

David “Dave” K. Hayward, 1st Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, China-Burma-India, B-25 Pilot

Secret War

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

John “Tilt” Stryker Meyer, S/Sgt, U.S. Army, Infantry, Vietnam

WWII South Pacific, 1st Marine Air Wing

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Irving B. “Irv” Saunders”, S/Sgt., U.S. Marine Corps, WWII, South Pacific

From the Sea to the Mountains

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Robert Dugan, S/Sgt, U.S. Marine Corps, Korean War

Memories of “Peace Terms,” A B-24 in Action

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Herb Guiness, Captain, U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, B-24 Liberator pilot, European Theater

P-51, F-80, F-84, F-86 Keep ‘em Flying

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Orville E. “Pete” Pederson, Sgt, U.S. Army, Korean War

The Air War in Vietnam

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Marvin “Marv” Traywick Garrison, Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam War

Celebration of Jack’s Life

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

In memory of Jack R. Hammett, W01, U.S. Navy, World War II; Pearl Harbor Survivor; Founder of The Freedom Committee of Orange County

Experiences of a “Chopper” pilot in Vietnam

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

James C. “Jim” Grimm, CWO2,U.S. Army, Vietnam

Special Forces Operation for Vietnam

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Robert “Bob” McClain, Captain, U.S. Army, Infantry Officer

Rescue of Medical Students in Grenada

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

William J. Mall Jr., Major General, U.S. Air Force, Cold War, Vietnam, Grenada

Radar Bombing 14th Air Force in China, Flying the Hump & Typhoon

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Vern P. Martin, Sgt., U.S. Air Force, WWII, Asiatic-Pacific, China, Burma, India

Suicide Missions

Monday, March 10, 2014

Robert H. “Bob” Meyer, Captain, U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, Glider Pilot.

Life of a Young GI during WWII

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Howard “Howie” Louis Beach, Jr., Sergeant, U.S. Army, WWII

Naval Aviation Combat in the South Pacific

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

John A. Hughes, Major, U.S. Marine Corps, WWII and Korea

Battle of the Bulge & Assault on Germany

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Fred Whitaker, Corporal, U.S. Army, WWII

Battle of the Bulge & POW Experiences

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

George H. Emerson, Sergeant, U.S Army Air Force, WWII, Tail Gunner B-17

Special Navy Advance Group & The Invasion of Europe

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Jack R. Hammett, Warrant Officer, U.S. Navy, WWII, Pacific

A Helicopter Pilot in Vietnam

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Malcolm Campbell, CW04, U.S. Army

Korean Conflict

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Bryan P. Roland, T/Sgt, U.S. Air Force

B-24 Radio/Gunner

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Robert D. Davis, Technical Sergeant, U. S. Army Air Force, WWII

Attack on the U.S.S. Liberty by Israeli Defense Forces

Monday, January 7, 2013

Donald Pageler, Crypto Technician 2nd Class, U. S. Navy

Combat Flying in the South Pacific, WWII

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Theodore (Ted) Tanner, Lt. Col., U.S. Army Air Force

Flare Drop Operations in Korea

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

George Joseph Widly, Aviation Specialist First Class, U. S. Navy

Point Man in Jungle Combat

Monday, August 6, 2012

Robert John Leahy, Specialist 4, U. S. Army, Vietnam War, Combat Infantryman

Surviving in shark infested waters

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Dr. Norman R. Loats, Storekeeper 2nd Class, U.S. Navy, WWII

Vietnam War Stories

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

William E. Anderson, Major, U.S. Air Force

War Experiences & life as a POW

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Edison Wainright Miller, Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam.

Korean Conflict

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Frank Ramirez, S/Sgt, U.S. Army

Pearl Harbor Revisited (70 Years Later) – Bankston, Bender, Gregory, Hammett, Higgins, Iantorno, Porter, and Thomas

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Experiences of a WWII Fighter Pilot – Lt Col Powers, USAF, WWII, European Theater

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

America’s Biggest Naval Battle and Survival at Sea

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Norman Russell Loats, Storekeeper 2nd Class, U.S. Navy, WWII, South Pacific

Missing in Action-Jungle Survival

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Eugene C. Wallace, Colonel, U.S. Army Air Force, WWII

Life of a Young GI during WWII

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Howard “Howie” Louis Beach, Jr., Sergeant, U.S. Army, WWII, 9th Infantry Division, 9th Recon

Bombing Mission to destroy oil refineries, Romania, WWII

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Robert Sternfels, Major, U.S. Army Air Force, WWII, European Theater, Ploesti Raid

Flying the King Fisher, The Eye of the Fleet

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Daniel D. Huston, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, WWII, Battleship Scout Pilot, U.S.S, Colorado, Pacific

The Mekong Delta Navy

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

John “Kirk” Ferguson, Commander, U.S. Navy, Vietnam

Attu, Normandy, and Okinawa and Korea

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Frank H. Haigler, Captain, U.S. Marine Corps

Liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Daniel Gillespie, S/Sgt., U.S. Army, WWII, European theater, Infantry

Pacific Theater – 1945

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Combat from a modern bomber perspective – Miller

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Flying WWII Bombers in the Pacific and Europe – Panel

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

The Forward Air Controller

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

William B. Mall, Major General, U.S. Air Force

Reflections of a Combat Engineer in Vietnam

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Timothy Richards, Captain, U.S. Army

The Ground Pounders

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Salute to our Purple Heart Medal Members

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

The Combat Nurse in Vietnam – Moore

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Stories about Gen. Patton’s Tank Corp

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Merl “Bus” Cornelius, Sergeant, U.S. Army, Sergeant, WWII

Sighted Sub, Sank Same

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

David D. Huston, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, WWII

The Quick and the Dead

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Jack R. Hammett, Warrant Officer, U.S. Navy