Save the Date!
Memorial Day Ceremony
Sunday, May 24, 2026 (1 p.m.)

Please join us at the newly-dedicated Memorial Amphitheater at Miramar National Cemetery. The event is open to the public and free to attend.
This year’s keynote speaker is CAPT Steve “Shep” Shepard, U.S. Navy (Ret.). Shep spent 31 years in senior leadership and executive level roles worldwide and in the US. A career intelligence officer, his assignments included sea and shore duty in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Central America. He completed eight overseas deployments, and served on seven different aircraft carriers in peace, crisis, counter piracy and combat operations.
CAPT Shepard has a diverse career including leadership assignments in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as a Vietnam POW/MIA Analyst, helping resolve the status of missing servicemen from the Vietnam conflict. During his assignment to the U.S. European Command, he ran a Commander’s Action Group and served as a speechwriter for international, military, and host-nation events. While at the U.S. Pacific Fleet headquarters, he ran the Fleet Intelligence Watch and served as Chief of Targets for Joint Task Force 519.
Following retirement, he has been a keynote speaker and defense consultant. He currently serves as Commander of American Legion Post 35, which his grandfather was a charter member following his naval service in World War I. Shep also served on the board of Naval Intelligence Professionals (NIP) as Membership Chair. Additionally, he is a writer for NIP’s upcoming publication on the 150-year history of naval intelligence. He remains active in the military and veteran community by volunteering with many organizations, including Honor Flight San Diego.
For questions about the Memorial Day Ceremony, please email: President@miramarcemetery.org