San Diego will honor its Military this Memorial Day Weekend 2012 with many events and ceremonies throughout the county.  It’s important to take the time to honor those who served and have fallen in order to provide us the freedom that we enjoy in this great country. Also known as the unofficial kickoff to summer, several other events are also taking place. Let’s take a look at what’s happening.

The Veterans Museum & Memorial Center will be holding a Memorial Day Program, free to the public, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on May 26-28 in Balboa Park on Park Boulevard, honoring veterans for their service. On Monday, at 12:30pm,  there will be a special memorial naming Active Duty who have passed away in the previous month as well as all San Diego County Veterans who have passed away. Taps will be played and a 21-gun salute will be fired.

The USS Midway Museum on the Embarcadero will hold a Veterans Wreath Ceremony, designed to encourage family attendance as a way to inspire patriotism and appreciation for those who serve. The event is free to the public, and admission to the museum following the event also is free to event attendees.

The 3rd Annual American Freedom Festival San Diego will be held on Saturday, May 26 at 7:30 p.m. aboard the Midway Museum. The fund-raising event features Three Dog Night. Tickets are available online and cost $25, $44.50, $59.50 and $74.50.

Members of the military, veterans and the public are invited to Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on Monday, May 30th at 10:00 a.m. for the 111th annual Memorial Day Service. Live Music by the U.S. Navy Band will begin at 8:45 a.m. The one-hour program will include music, a wreath tribute, cannon and rifle salute, bagpipe soloist, and special readings for the occasion. The keynote speaker will be Rear Admiral William Douglas French, US Navy Commander, Navy Region Southwest.

In Oceanside, the Veterans Association of North County will hold a Remembrance Ceremony at the VANC Resource Center, 1617 Mission Avenue beginning at 10 a.m. Monday.

Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial will host a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday at 2 p.m. to honor Dwight D. Eisenhower. Three generations of Eisenhowers will be there.

Greenwood Memorial Park will hold a Memorial Day service at 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 30 at the cemetery, 4300 Imperial Avenue in San Diego, in partnership with the American Legion San Diego Post 6. The event is free and open to the public.

In the Kensington neighborhood, children will march in the Annual Kensington Memorial Day Parade along Marlborough Drive between Adams Avenue and Palisades Road.

Other great weekend events to check out:

Stop by the Nutella Eating Contest at the parking lot of Jett Gallery on 989 West Kalmia St. The two rounds start at 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Cost is $5 and the winner gets free crepes for a year from Crepes Bonaparte.

SeaWorld will begin its summer fireworks show on Saturday, May 26 at 9:30 p.m.

The 15th Annual American Heritage Car Show will be held on Saturday, May 26 from 9 am – 3 pm at the Festivals & Fairs Grape Day Park in Escondido.

The San Dieguito American Legion Post 416 will hold a Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. Monday at the Cottonwood Creek Park Memorial Wall, at Vulcan Avenue and Encinitas Boulevard.

The Vista Village Strawberry Festival will cater to your sweet tooth on Sunday, May 27. The festival goes from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. at the Festivals & Fairs in Historic Downtown Vista.