Lancaster Cemetery - Los Angeles County, CA

06/06/2026

Congratulations to the Antelope Valley Blue Star Mothers Chapter 14 on being recognized as California's 2026 Nonprofit of the Year! 🇺🇸💙

Today, Senator Suzette Valladares presented the Antelope Valley Blue Star Mothers Chapter 14 with California's Nonprofit of the Year Award in recognition of their outstanding service to Veterans, active-duty military personnel, and military families throughout our community.

Please join us in congratulating the Antelope Valley Blue Star Mothers Chapter 14 on this well-deserved honor. 🇺🇸

05/27/2026

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LANCASTER — Veterans and dignitaries attended a large Memorial Day Ceremony at the Veteran’s Court of Lancaster Cemetery on Monday morning.

05/27/2026

The dedication and professionalism shown by the AV Young Marines are truly commendable. Observing their contribution gives us great confidence that if these young individuals are our future leaders, we are in very good hands.

05/07/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lancaster Cemetery to Host 2026 Memorial Day Ceremony Honoring America’s Fallen Heroes

The Antelope Valley Cemetery District invites the community to gather in remembrance and reflection during its annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 25, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. at Lancaster Cemetery, located at 111 East Lancaster Blvd., Lancaster, CA 93535.

This year’s ceremony will honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to the United States through music, remembrance traditions, community participation, and tributes from local veterans and dignitaries.

Community members are also invited to participate in the cemetery’s annual Flag Placing event on Friday, May 22, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., where volunteers will help place flags throughout the cemetery in honor of Veterans laid to rest there.

The Memorial Day Ceremony will begin with prelude bagpipe music performed by George Martin as guests arrive. The program will include the Presentation of the Colors by the AV Young Marines, the National Anthem performed by Joan Willingham of the Daughters of the American Revolution, an invocation by Steve Baker, and opening remarks by Antelope Valley Cemetery District Board Chairman Dave Owens.

Special moments of remembrance will include:
• The unveiling of two Veteran headstones
• Taps and a ceremonial folding by VFW Post 3000
• Memorial Wreath Placement by Blue Star Mothers Chapter 14
• An honorary Bell Ceremony led by Phil Roberts and Kara
• A keynote address by U.S. Navy Veteran Graig Bradford
• A closing performance of “Amazing Grace”by George Martin

The ceremony is free and all are invited to attend.

For additional information, please contact:
Lin Blanco
District Manager
Antelope Valley Cemetery District
661-942-6117

“Lest We Forget.”

05/06/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A Quiet New Tradition Begins at Lancaster Cemetery’s Japanese Memorial
LANCASTER, CA — On May 5, 2026, the Antelope Valley Cemetery District held a small and meaningful observance of Japanese Children’s Day (Kodomo no Hi) at the cemetery’s Japanese Memorial.
The informal gathering brought together members of the local community for an afternoon of reflection, remembrance, and cultural appreciation. Guests decorated traditional paper carp (koinobori), folded origami cranes, and placed flowers at the grave of Tomiko Okimoto, the one-year-old daughter of a Japanese family who allowed the original memorial obelisk to be erected over her grave.
During the observance, AVCD Board Chairman David Owens shared the history of the Japanese Memorial Obelisk, which was originally dedicated on May 30, 1938. The monument was later torn down during World War II amid anti-Japanese sentiment and the forced relocation of Japanese American families to internment camps, including Poston, Arizona. The memorial was ultimately re-dedicated on May 17, 2008, following a restoration effort led by former District Manager Dayle DeBry.
Owens also reflected on remarks made by a Japanese community member during the 2008 re-dedication ceremony, noting that no formal gesture of apology or recognition had previously been extended to the local Japanese community for the unfair treatment they endured during that period in American history.
Today, the memorial continues to hold deep meaning for local Japanese American families and serves as a reminder of both hardship and resilience.
“This was a quiet gathering, but a meaningful one,” said District Manager Linda Blanco. “It was a reminder that the Antelope Valley was built by pioneers from many different backgrounds and cultures. We remember them, and we honor them.”
The Antelope Valley Cemetery District hopes to continue finding thoughtful ways to share the stories and histories represented throughout the cemetery grounds.

For more information, please contact:
Antelope Valley Cemetery District
111 E. Lancaster Blvd.
Lancaster, CA 93535
(661) 942-6110

05/01/2026

On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, from 3 P.M. to 4 P.M., the Lancaster Cemetery invites you to join us for a small, informal gathering at the Japanese Memorial in honor of Japanese Children's Day,
Kodomo no Hi.🎏
This will be a gentle and reflective moment to celebrate children—
their happiness, their growth, and the hopes we carry for their future.
🎏What to expect:
-A simple craft table where children can decorate their
own paper carp, koinobori, to take home
-A small “wish” activity where children may write a message
and place it at the memorial
-Fresh flowers available for offering
-A quiet moment of reflection together
🎏Location:
Japanese Memorial at Lancaster Cemetery
111 East Lancaster Blvd., Lancaster CA 93534

04/24/2026

These roses are cared for by our team each day, a small part of the dedication that goes into every space here 🌹

04/21/2026

In 2023, we had the privilege of hearing from U.S. Air Force Veteran and Coffee4Vets Member, Mayra Duarte, during our Veterans Day Ceremony.

Mayra is a familiar and respected presence in our local veteran community, and she spoke from the heart about her experiences following the Iraq War… sharing what life looks like after service, and how connection and purpose continue beyond it.

We were so pleased to see her recently honored at the Vets 4 Veterans Evening of Community Support, a well-deserved recognition of the impact she continues to make.

Moments like these stay with us.

Thank you, Mayra, for your service and for the way you continue to show up for others. 🇺🇸

01/22/2026

Congratulations to our friends at the Av Boga and Alejandro Castillo for the grand opening of Boots on the Ground Apparel today. The non-profit AV BOGA ( https://yourboga.org) always rolls deep to all our Veteran events at the cemetery and we are proud to call them our friends.

01/15/2026

Our cemetery grounds are open to visitors 365 days a year from Sunrise to Sunset, however our office is closed on the following Holiday Office Closures:
Please visit our website https://www.antelopevalleycemeterydistrict.com/
or call us at 661-942-6110 if you would like to learn more about our historic cemetery, the Lancaster Cemetery, and the AV Cemetery District.