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The Tri-Valley is set to have a view this weekend of the historic Mount Diablo beacon in action, when it will be illuminated as part of Contra Costa County’s Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremony.
This year will mark the 62nd in which the 97-year-old beacon has been lit as a tribute to the survivors and victims of the attacks on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 — the “Eye of Diablo” famously went dark the following day 84 years ago as the country braced against the potential of further attacks on domestic soil.
“The Beacon lighting is a tribute to those individuals that lost their lives at Pearl Harbor,” said Pearl Harbor survivor Earl “Chuck” Kohler in a press release from Save Mount Diablo – a cosponsor of the event alongside California State Parks, Cal State East Bay, and the local chapter of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor survivors.
Sherron Sandini, who survived the attacks during childhood, will be among the other survivors of the attacks being recognized and sharing experiences at this year’s ceremony.
Following a speech from Sandini, the winner of this year’s Pearl Harbor Legacy Scholarship is set to be introduced. The scholarship is awarded to undergraduate and graduate history majors focused on studying World War II who are interested in pursuing teaching careers.
Save Mount Diablo Executive Director Ted Clement and CSU East Bay Provost Anthony Muscat will also provide remarks at the ceremony, which is set to feature music from Erin Hegarty, Steve Barton and Jose Valenzula.
The ceremony will culminate in the beacon lighting from approximately 4:48-5:30 p.m.
The event is set to kick off at 3:45 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 7) Cal State East Bay’s Concord campus at 4700 Ygnacio Valley Road. Starting at 3 p.m., the campus will also welcome visitors to its USS Arizona exhibit.
For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be broadcast live on Contra Costa Television and rebroadcast on multiple dates throughout the month.
