Bakersfield National Cemetery annual Memorial Day Ceremony

The Bakersfield National Cemetery will commemorate Memorial Day with a 9 a.m. ceremony on Saturday, May 28 at the Bakersfield National Cemetery. veterans, their families, friends and the public are invited to attend.

Guest speakers for the event include Congressman Kevin McCarthy and Congressman David Valadao. The event will also feature a fly over, wreath presentation, traditional military tributes and music provided by the Bakersfield High School Band.

U.S. Air Force Lt Col Hans Buckwalter, will provide the keynote address. Buckwalter is the Deputy Commandant, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwardes AFB, California. As Deputy Commandant he oversees the conferral of a Master of Science degree in flight Test Engineering and the associated academic and flight training of 48 test pilot, systems operator and engineering students per year.

Bakersfield Civil Air Patrol will assist with parking for the event. Handicap accessible parking is available at the cemetery but is extremely limited. Carpooling to the ceremony is being strongly urged.

Due to the expected large crowd, patrons are encouraged to plan to arrive early and be in their seats by 8:45 a.m. The ceremony, which will begin at 9 a.m., is expected to last approximately one hour. Traffic at the site will be required to cease at that time.

The ceremony will be held rain or shine so plan appropriately for inclement weather. Should the weather be warm, as expected, complimentary bottled water will be available during the ceremony.

Also note that after the ceremony on Saturday, May 28, volunteers from the community will mark more than 9,000 gravesites at the cemetery with U.S. flags to honor the men and women who served the nation. Family members that wish to place a flag on their loved one's gravesite are asked to do so prior to the ceremony - between 7 and 8:30 a.m.

The Bakersfield National Cemetery is located at 30338 E. Bear Mountain Blvd., Arvin, California. Located on donated land from Tejon Ranch, the 500+ acres in Kern County had its first interments July 1, 2009.

For further information about the event, please contact the cemetery office at (661) 867-2250.