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Danville leaders and the local veteran community are set to join late Monday afternoon to ceremonially flip the switch to light up the beacon on Mount Diablo in honor of Veterans Day.
This is the third year in a row that the activities for the historic beacon — which is lit every year for Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day — were expanded to include Veterans Day. The proclamation in 2022 also included Memorial Day in the list of added illuminations.
“To the veterans in our midst, the beacon provides more than illumination; it represents a guiding force that led them through the darkest of times. It symbolizes the duty they undertook, the honor they upheld and the country they served with unwavering commitment,” retired Army Col. Alan Kalin, vice commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 75, told DanvilleSanRamon.
“The light from Mount Diablo connects us to their experiences, serving as a tangible reminder of the sacrifices made in service to our nation,” Kalin said.
“The words ‘duty, honor, country’ resonate deeply with the veterans gathered here,” he added. “These are not just ideals; they are a code by which they lived and served. The beacon on Mount Diablo captures the essence of these values, ensuring that they endure for generations to come.”
Attendees will begin to gather at the flagpole in front of the Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Danville at about 4:45 p.m. Monday (Nov. 11) ahead of the button being pressed at 5 p.m. to light the beacon.
Sixth grader Christina Karbowski is set to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the ceremony. Danville Mayor Karen Stepper and veteran Grant Ledoux will each speak, and Joe McHale will play “Taps”. The Veterans Memorial Building on Hartz Avenue will be open to the public from 5-7 p.m.
The event is a collaboration among local veteran organizations, the town of Danville, California State Parks and Save Mount Diablo.
