Memorial Day Ceremony at Bay Pines National Cemetery

The Bay Pines VA will commemorate Memorial Day with a ceremony on Monday, May 28th at 10:00 a.m. at the Bay Pines National Cemetery. 

This is the only National Cemetery in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties and the largest observance of Memorial Day with over 3,000 expected attendees. 

Veterans, their families and friends, and the general public are invited to attend.

To mark the occasion, all 31,733 graves will be marked with U.S. flags to honor those who gave their lives while serving in the military.

The event will be hosted by Fox 13 reporter, Alcides Sequi, and include musical performances, a firing salute, and taps performance.

A special performance and flag ceremony will be conducted by the Clearwater High School Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) Silent Drill Team.

Guest speakers for the event include Congressman C.W. Bill Young; new Bay Pines VA Medical Center Director Suzanne M. Klinker; and Florida National Cemetery Assistant Director Maurice Roan.

Parking for the event is available nearby. Shuttles will provide transportation for guests from parking lots to the National Cemetery. The venue is handicapped accessible. A sign language interpreter will be available for the hearing impaired. 

The event will take place outdoors. Please dress appropriately for inclement weather. For further information, please contact the cemetery office at 727-398-9426.

Directions:  I-275 to Exit 25 (38th Avenue North). West on 38th Avenue North about five miles to Tyrone Boulevard. Turn right onto Tyrone Boulevard and proceed approximately 2.5 miles. Turn left at 95th (this is the east entrance to the VA property). Follow that road about ¼ mile and the cemetery will be on the left.