Memorial Day 2024: South Florida to honor its fallen with special ceremonies, wreath presentations, flag plantings and more

Memorial Day has been observed on the last Monday of May since 1971. In remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives in service to our country, people throughout South Florida will gather for ceremonies, march in parades, and place flags on veterans’ graves.

Did you know the poppy has become known as the red flower of remembrance? The Boca Raton-based Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10556 and other veterans’ organizations hand out silk or crepe-paper versions of these vibrant flowers every Memorial Day weekend in exchange for donations to benefit disabled veterans as well as rehabilitation and service programs.

VFW Post 10556 also organizes a ceremony at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Boca Raton on the holiday every year, featuring color guards, a national anthem singer, guest speakers, a bagpiper, wreath ceremony, rifle volley, and the audience singing along to “God Bless America.”

“We invite all veterans and their families as well as the general public to show their appreciation for the memory of those members of our military who nobly served and made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the United States of America in the many wars and conflicts that have been fought,” said VFW Post 10556 Cmdr. Barry Goldin. “Their memory remains in the hearts of all of us and their family and friends.”

In Coral Springs, U.S. Army veteran Sandi Winters will be the keynote speaker during a city ceremony on Monday, May 27, also at Veteran’s Park. She spent three years in Seoul, South Korea, working as a civilian employee for the Korean Ministry of National Defense helping to build an Armed Forces Korea Network Station.

Winters moved to Florida in 2003, serving as vice commander of American Legion Post 277 in Boca Raton. She’s currently a member of the 142nd Post in Pompano Beach and the Veterans Coalition of Coral Springs, a volunteer at the VA Clinic in Sunrise, and regent of the Lighthouse Point Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution.

“Our Memorial Day Ceremony is a solemn but an important event for our local military community, because it affords us the opportunity to reflect and remember our fallen heroes together as one,” Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook said in a statement. “May the brave service-men and -women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom always live on in our hearts and minds as we gather to remember and honor them.”

Here’s our city-by-city guide to Memorial Day events happening in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

BROWARD COUNTY 

Hollywood 

• A Salute to the Fallen Memorial Day Community Event is set from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at Boulevard Heights Community Center Amphitheater, 6770 Garfield St. It will include food vendors and music; bring a blanket or chair. Single-use plastics are prohibited. Visit hollywoodfl.org.

Coconut Creek

• Hosted by the City of Coconut Creek Parks and Recreation Department, this Memorial Day Ceremony will feature speakers and dignitaries at 9 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Veterans Park, 3550 Lyons Road. In the event of bad weather, the ceremony will take place in the Recreation Complex, 4455 Sol Press Blvd. Visit coconutcreek.net.

Coral Springs

•  The city of Coral Springs, in partnership with the Veterans Coalition of Coral Springs, will have a Memorial Day Ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Veterans Park, 8601 Royal Palm Blvd. U.S. Army veteran Sandi Winters is the keynote speaker. The event includes a presentation of colors and wreath placing by the Coral Springs Civil Air Patrol, salute volley and “Taps” performed by the Coral Springs Police Honor Guard. In case of bad weather, the ceremony will be moved to the Coral Springs Gymnasium, 2501 Coral Springs Drive. Visit coralsprings.gov.

Davie

• The town’s Memorial Day Parade will step off at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 27, just west of the Davie Fire Administration building, 6901 Orange Drive. The route continues east on Orange Drive to Southwest 65th Way and then north to the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds, 4201 Rodeo Way. The Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the Rodeo Grounds, featuring guest speakers, town dignitaries, presentation of colors, folding and presentation of the U.S. flag, among other activities. Flags will be available to purchase for $1 before the ceremony. During the ceremony flags (purchased or brought) can be presented to be placed on veterans’ graves. Visit davie-fl.gov.

Deerfield Beach

• The city and the American Legion’s Memorial Day Ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday, May 27, at the Braithwaite Center for Active Aging, 325 NW Second Ave., will honor and salute the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, focusing on those who gave their lives in service to the country. Visit deerfield-beach.com.

Fort Lauderdale

• It will be a day for remembering at the city’s Memorial Day Ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Lauderdale Memorial Park Cemetery, 2001 SW Fourth Ave. With music from the Fort Lauderdale Symphonic Winds with James Perkowski, the ceremony also includes an opening hymn, invocation, parade of colors and dove release, among other traditions. Visit parks.fortlauderdale.gov.
• The city and the William C. Morris American Legion Post 36 will have a Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday, May 27, at the Sandy Nininger Statue on the Riverwalk next to the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. Other participating groups include Sons of American Legion Squad 36, Ladies Auxiliary Unit 36, Robert Bethel American Legion Post 220, 82nd Airborne Veterans, and American Veterans for Equal Rights. Free parking will be available in the Broward Center garage. Visit ftlcity.info/memorialday24.

Lauderhill

• The Northwest Lauderhill Neighbors Association and Commissioner S. Ray Martin are inviting military families who have lost loved ones to a Memorial Day Service from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Veterans Park, 7600 NW 50th St. Families who would like to participate and say the name of their loved one should arrive by 8:10 a.m. to be seated. Visit lauderhill-fl.gov.

Margate

• The city is having its Memorial Day Ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Veterans Memorial Park, 7044 NW First St. Visit margatefl.com.

Miramar

• The city will honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice during a Memorial Day Ceremony from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, May 27, at Veterans Memorial Park, 6405 Arbor Drive. Visit memorialdaymiramar.eventbrite.com.

Oakland Park

• The city and the American Legion are partnering for a Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday, May 27, at the American Legion Post 222, 4250 NE Fifth Ave., with city leaders and dignitaries. Visit oaklandparkfl.gov.

Parkland

• A formal Memorial Day Ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 27, will be followed by a patriotic concert with speakers and food trucks at Pine Trails Park Amphitheatre, 10561 Trails End. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Visit cityofparkland.org/memorial, or call 954-757-4215.

Pembroke Pines

• The city’s Memorial Day Ceremony is set for 9 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Fletcher Park, 7900 Johnson St. It will feature speakers, a presentation of colors honoring veterans and a wreath placing. A live feed of the ceremony will be available on Facebook.com/cityofpembrokepines or @cityofppines on Instagram. Visit ppines.com.

Plantation

• The city’s Memorial Day Service will start at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Veterans Park, 1776 Lauderdale W. Drive. The service will be livestreamed on Facebook.com/CityofPlantationFL. Visit plantation.org.

Pompano Beach

• Put on by the Parks & Recreation Department in collaboration with Public Works, the Memorial Day Parade begins at 10 a.m. Monday, May 27, at McNab Park, 2250 E. Atlantic Blvd., and concludes at the Pompano Beach Cemetery, 400 SE 23rd Ave. A Memorial Day Ceremony afterward will honor veterans, military service members and their families. Visit pompanobeachfl.gov.

Sunrise

• A wreath placement, speakers and the presentation of colors are planned for the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Sunrise Civic Center Theatre, 10610 W. Oakland Park Blvd. It is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Monday, May 27. Visit sunrisefl.gov.

Tamarac

• The city’s Memorial Day Ceremony — set for 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Veterans’ Memorial Park, 7825 Southgate Blvd. — will feature a keynote address by Vietnam veteran Levoyd Williams, an Army staff sergeant in the Americal Division who was awarded the Bronze Star for his service. The program will also include a presentation of colors led by Tamarac Fire Rescue, vocalist Chantal Deshaies singing the national anthem, a wreath-laying ceremony and a bagpipe performance of “Amazing Grace.” Visit tamarac.org.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

Boynton Beach

• The Boynton Beach Veterans Task Force will continue its tradition of placing flags on veterans’ graves during its Memorial Day Flag Planting from 8 to 11 a.m. Friday, May 24, at Boynton Beach Memorial Park and Mausoleum, 1611 S. Seacrest Blvd. To volunteer, email johnsonj@bbfl.us. Visit boynton-beach.org.
• Also presented by the Boynton Beach Veterans Task Force, a Memorial Day Ceremony will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 26, at Memorial Park, 1611 S. Seacrest Blvd. The program will take place near the mausoleum under the overhang area. Tents and seating will be available. Visit boynton-beach.org.

Lake Worth Beach 

• Flags for Fallen Vets will be placing markers at grave sites starting at 8:45 a.m. Sunday, May 26, at the South Florida National Cemetery, 6501 S. State Road 7. Visit flagsforfallenvets.com.

Boca Raton

• The Memorial Day Ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday, May 27, at the Boca Raton Cemetery, 451 SW Fourth Ave., will feature multiple speakers, including Bob Slone, veteran Air Force sergeant, American Legion Post 277 commander; Jonathan Oakley, retired U.S. Marine, senior director of Mission United; Sally Nemes, Estahakee Chapter NSDAR regent; and Cary Reichbach, U.S. Army veteran, founder of Grey Team. Visit myboca.us/1470/Memorial-Day.
• The city is also offering a free Memorial Day Concert featuring The American Sirens from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, May 27, at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real. The performance will include patriotic songs and American favorites. Bring a chair or blanket; chair rental is $5 and free for active military, veterans and Gold Star families. Refreshments will be available for purchase, with coolers and outside alcoholic beverages prohibited. Visit myboca.us/1470/Memorial-Day.
• The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10556 will present its annual Memorial Day Program at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Veteran’s Memorial Park, 9400 W. Palmetto Park Road. The event will have a procession of colors, speakers, a wreath ceremony and patriotic music. A livestream of the program will be on Facebook.com/pbcparks.

Lantana 

• The 19th annual Forgotten Soldiers Outreach’s A Day to Remember will honor fallen service members at 11:50 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Palm Beach Memorial Park Cemetery, 3691 N. Seacrest Blvd. The Memorial Day service will include massing of colors, wreath presentations, POW/MIA ceremony, USVII torpedo display, a dove release and patriotic music. Traci L. Caicedo, a U. S. Army veteran and Florida National Guard member, is the keynote speaker, and former news anchor and Army veteran Jim Sackett will serve as emcee. Visit forgottensoldiers.org.

Royal Palm Beach

• The village’s Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Veterans Park Amphitheater, 1036 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. Visit royalpalmbeachfl.gov.
• A Memorial Day Mass will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, May 27, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery, Outdoor Chapel, 10941 Southern Blvd. The mass will be offered for all who died in service, and there will also be a special military tribute to those who have served. A limited amount of seating will be provided, but attendees can bring their own chair. Visit ourqueen.org.

Wellington

• Presented by the village of Wellington and the American Legion Post 390. veterans are invited to walk in the Memorial Day Parade starting at 8:15 a.m. Monday, May 27, at Wellington Village Hall, 12300 Forest Hill Blvd. The Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial, 11848 Forest Hill Blvd. Call Michelle Garvey at 561-791-4082 to participate in the parade or ceremony. Visit wellingtonfl.gov.