What Memorial Day Means to Lincoln
Honoring Service, Sacrifice, and Our Shared History
Every year on the last Monday in May, the city of Lincoln pauses. Memorial Day in Lincoln, California, is more than a long weekend or the start of summer,it’s a heartfelt reflection on sacrifice, service, and community. It’s a day when we come together not only to remember those who gave their lives in service to our nation, but to recommit ourselves to the values they defended: freedom, unity, and hope.
Rooted in History, Grounded in Gratitude
Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day began in the wake of the Civil War, a time when families and communities sought ways to honor those who never returned home. Today, Lincoln carries that spirit forward with reverence and pride. Our small city holds tight to the meaning behind the day, transforming tradition into a living, breathing tribute that touches every generation.
Morning Memorial Services Across Lincoln
The James E. Fowler American Legion Post 264, located at 📍 541 5th Street, Lincoln, CA 95648, is a longstanding fixture in Lincoln’s veteran community. This historic post serves as both a gathering place and a center for ongoing service; supporting youth programs, organizing civic events, and leading remembrance efforts like Memorial Day.
Before the main ceremony at McBean Memorial Park, the day begins with a powerful series of community-led services hosted by American Legion Post 264 and Glen Edwards VFW Post 3010, along with their Auxiliaries. These services include solemn military honors and patriotic reflections at local cemeteries. All are welcome to attend:
🕘 9:00 AM – Sheridan Cemetery
🕙 10:00 AM – Manzanita Cemetery
🕚 11:00 AM – Santa Clara Cemetery
🕛 12:00 PM – 1st Street Cemetery, featuring guest speaker Placer County District 2 Supervisor Shanti Landon
These observances are a moving way to begin the day, grounded in tradition, gratitude, and the visible presence of community support.
👉 More information atwww.lincolnlegion.org
The Heart of Our Tribute: McBean Memorial Park
Later in the day, the community gathers for Lincoln’s citywide Memorial Day ceremony at the Placer County Veterans Monument, located on the backside of McBean Memorial Park at:
📍 65 McBean Park Drive, Lincoln, CA 95648
Unveiled on Memorial Day 2021, the monument is the result of extraordinary collaboration led by the Lincoln Veterans Memorial Coalition. This dedicated group brings together several of Lincoln’s most respected veteran organizations; American Legion Post 264, Lincoln Hills Veterans Association, Glen Edwards VFW Post 3010, Semper Fi Association, and the Women Veterans Alliance. United by a shared mission, they work year-round to preserve the memory of local service members and ensure their sacrifices continue to be honored by future generations.
On this day, the monument becomes the heart of a powerful ceremony. Wreaths are laid with care. Flags flutter in the breeze. Speeches from veterans and local leaders remind us of the cost of freedom. Music stirs emotions, and moments of silence allow us all, young and old, to reflect in our own way.
A Community Tradition
The Memorial Day ceremony in Lincoln brings neighbors together. Veterans stand beside scout troops. Families bring children to learn and remember. Local musicians lend their voices to patriotic songs. This intergenerational spirit is what makes Lincoln’s tribute so special: it’s not just about the past, but about teaching the future.
A Year-Round Place of Remembrance
While Memorial Day is a focal point, the Veterans Monument is open all year. It welcomes visitors who wish to pay their respects, reflect, or simply be reminded of the sacrifices behind our everyday freedoms. Through community support, fundraising, and stewardship, the site continues to grow and inspire.
Why It Matters
In today’s busy world, it’s easy to let days like Memorial Day become background noise. But in Lincoln, we hold fast to its meaning. Memorial Day reminds us that liberty comes with a price and that those who paid it should never be forgotten.
As a community, we choose gratitude. We choose remembrance. And we choose to come together in the shared understanding that the freedoms we enjoy today are built on the courage and sacrifice of those who came before us.
Join Us This Memorial Day – Monday, May 26, 2025
We invite all members of the Lincoln community to take part in this year’s Memorial Day observances. Start the morning with meaningful cemetery services hosted by our local American Legion and VFW posts, then gather with neighbors at McBean Memorial Park for the main city ceremony. Wear your red, white, and blue. Bring your family. Share a story. Shake a veteran’s hand. And if you can’t attend in person, please take a quiet moment at 3:00 PM to observe the National Moment of Remembrance from wherever you are.
Memorial Day is not just a holiday, it’s a promise to remember.
