Presidio of San Francisco (May 18, 2006) -- The City’s traditional Memorial Day ceremony, which takes place on Monday, May 29 in the Presidio will honor the thousands of Americans killed in recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with a special tribute to female soldiers lost in these wars.

The day’s events kick-off at 10:30 am at the Main Post Parade Ground of the Presidio (Montgomery and Sheridan Streets) with a parade to the nearby National Cemetery on the Presidio.

The formal program begins at 11 am in the cemetery and will include remarks by Mayor Gavin Newsom and other notables, music by the 91^st Division Pipes and Drums and the Pleasanton Community Concert band. The service will close at noon with a flag-raising, traditional military flyover and 21-gun salute.

The Memorial Day ceremony frequently draws some 2,000 people, making it one of the largest events in the country. The National Cemetery in the Presidio is a designated national historic landmark. More than 35,000 veterans and their dependents are buried here, dating to the 1846 war with Mexico.

Following the ceremony, National Park Service rangers will lead walks through the cemetery, highlighting the final resting place for Medal of Honor recipients and other historic figures. The guided tour begins at 12:30 pm and takes about 30 minutes.

The free PresidioGo Shuttle will begin service at 9:30 am taking visitors from the Lombard Gate to the Main Post and the National Cemetery every 20 minutes.

For more information, visit www.presidio.gov or call (415) 561-5500.