CEREMONIES SET FOR VETERANS DAY.

Byline: Daily News

PALMDALE - Antelope Valley Veterans Day observances will start early with a flag-raising ceremony performed by Cub Scouts at 7 a.m. Monday at the Lancaster Cemetery.

Following the flag raising at the cemetery on Lancaster Boulevard at Division Street, boys from Cub Scout Pack 699 will lay a wreath and place small U.S. flags on graves of veterans.

``We feel it's important to reinforce respect for the flag and honor for our veterans on every possible occasion,'' said Jack Abney, chairman of the board of trustees of the Lancaster Cemetery District. ``It's a great opportunity to instill these qualities in our younger generation of scouts and students on these special national observances.''

At 11 a.m., the Lancaster Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7283 and Ladies Auxiliary will host a memorial service at Joshua Memorial Park, 808 E. Lancaster Blvd.

Assemblyman George Runner, R-Lancaster, and Sen. W.J. ``Pete'' Knight, R-Palmdale, will be the guest speakers. The event which will also feature a recitation of the World War I poem ``Flanders Field'' and a wreath-laying ceremony.

Keynote speakers will include Bill Eldridge, commander of VFW Post 3000, and Col. William C. Coutts, vice commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base.

In Palmdale, the Antelope Valley Service Organization will host a ceremony at 11 a.m. at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, 2200 E. Ave. S.

Guest speakers include Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford and Pearl Harbor survivor Bill Brady. Antelope Valley High School Cadet Corps Honor Guard will give a rifle salute while the Palmdale High School choral students will sing ``The Star Spangled Banner'' and ``God Bless America.''

Palmdale High School buglers Gene Geralde and Marcia Castro will play taps.

The Two Bell ceremony, a naval tradition to honor fallen shipmates, will be performed by Fleet Reserve Association members Phil Roberts and Terry Hopper.

Rosamond Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9657 and American Legion Post 490 will host Rosamond's 9th annual Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at Rosamond Park on Glendower Street.

There will be a tribute to World War I veterans and a salute to military, firemen, police and civilians who were killed or took part in rescue and rebuilding efforts after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Boy Scout Troop 41 will serve a pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m at the part. A 21-gun salute will be performed by the U.S. Marine Rifle Team from Edwards Air Force Base. Lunch will be served after the ceremony at Rosamond VFW Post 9657 on 20th Street and Elray.

All events are free and open to the public.