The Central Coast will recognize veterans with several ceremonies and other events Wednesday.

- Santa Maria's American Legion Post 56 will host a Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, corner of Pine and Tunnell streets.

- The Santa Maria Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2521 will hold a separate ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Santa Maria Cemetery, on Battles Road between Stowell and Battles roads, recognizing prisoners of war, organizers said.

- Veterans and their families can receive a free meal between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., courtesy of Santa Maria attorney Michael B. Clayton, who is marking his ninth year of holding the barbecue.

This year, the location has been changed due to the overwhelming turnout of past events. The barbecue will be at the Veterans Memorial Community Center, 500 S. Pine St. in Santa Maria.

- In Guadalupe, the American Legion post will host an 11 a.m. ceremony at the Guadalupe Cemetery, corner of highways 1 and 166 (Guadalupe and Main streets). Speakers will include city officials and a representative of Vandenberg Air Force Base. A 21-gun salute and balloon release will occur in conjunction with the reading of the names of Guadalupe residents killed in wars.

- Orcutt typically has its own ceremony at Pine Grove Cemetery, but organizers didn't return calls to provide details.

- Lompoc's ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. in the Veterans Memorial Building, 100 E. Locust Ave. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1717 will host the event. In case of bad weather, the ceremony will be moved inside the building.

- The Lompoc Elks Lodge will serve a free lunch to veterans from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 905 E. Ocean Ave. Lunch is $3 for nonmembers. Entertainment will be provided by the Dick Clark Big Band from noon to 3 p.m. Military memorabilia also will be on display. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 736-2274.

- Five Cities area veterans groups will band together for a 10:45 a.m. ceremony at Veterans' Memorial Hall, 80 Bello St. in Pismo Beach. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2829 will host the ceremony, with participation from VFW Post 10978 and American Legion Post 136.

- The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7139 in Santa Ynez Valley will host the local Veterans Day program at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building on Mission Drive in Solvang.

- The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation will host a Veterans Day Celebration at 10:30 a.m. at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park and will include a prayer, wreath ceremony, the playing of taps and a cannon and musket firing.

- In honor of America's veterans and armed services personnel, Wednesday has been designated as a Fee Free Day in Los Padres National Forest.

Visitors who inadvertently commit a Daily Adventure Pass on a Fee Free Day can have it replaced free-of-charge. Other fees, such as campground, reservation and group site fees, still may be applicable.

For more information, contact the Santa Lucia Ranger District in Santa Maria at 925-9538.

November 9, 2009