Celebrate Antioch Foundation and the Rivertown Merchants announces their 2023 list of events in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown in beginning in April. Some events will be hosted by or with other community partners. Download, print and post this flier on your refrigerator or save it in your phone’s photo album and add the list below to your calendar as reminders! To participate or for more information visit www.celebrateantioch.org or www.facebook.com/antiochrivertown.

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Join Virtually

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84535737114?pwd=dlhiQXhCaW56cWhIMGozK1NFMTFhUT09

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If you have any questions or concerns text Tim Jeremy at (925) 759-6537 or email: timjeremy78@gmail.com.

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Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Vito Imbasciani. Source: Veterans’ Voices

Includes interview with Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs Dr. Vito Imbasciani

By Ray Alvarado, Contra Costa County Office of Communications & Media 

On Monday, December 12th, at 7 pm (PST), the Veterans’ Voices show will premiere its “Best of 2022” show, highlighting some of the best moments from the past year. It will showcase some of the most interesting interviews from a wide range of topics important to the Veterans community. The show will feature Veterans from all branches of service sharing their experiences. It will also include an interview with the Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Vito Imbasciani.

The Veterans’ Voices program is broadcasted on Contra Costa Television (CCTV) on the second Monday of every month at 7 pm. It can be seen live online at facebook.com/veteransvoices1. You can find an archive of past shows and show resources at https://contracosta.ca.gov/5163/Veterans-Voices

or on our YouTube channel Veterans’ Voices of Contra Costa. The show is re-run multiple times on CCTV on Comcast Channel 27, Astound Channels 32 and 1027, and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99.

Join us as we present our year of topics discussed from the Veterans’ point of view. We are proud to share these open and honest discussions and honor those who serve.

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Mount Diablo Summit Beacon. By Stephen Joseph.

On Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

By Laura Kindsvater, Communications Manager, Save Mount Diablo  

On December 7th, Mount Diablo’s Beacon will be relit by a survivor of Pearl Harbor supported by a Save Mount Diablo team.

The Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors, Chapter 5 are pleased to co-sponsor this 59th Annual National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Beacon Lighting Ceremony with Save Mount Diablo, California State Parks, and California State University, East Bay.

We invite you to attend the ceremony to pay tribute to the lives that were lost and honor our surviving veterans of Pearl Harbor. The ceremony will be held at the California State University, East Bay Concord Campus, at 4700 Ygnacio Valley Road in Concord.

Viewing of the new USS Arizona exhibit at the CSUEB Concord Campus will be available from 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM as well as 45 minutes post ceremony. The ceremony will commence at 3:45 PM.

The program begins with the posting of colors, pledge of allegiance, and national anthem.

Ted Clement, Executive Director of Save Mount Diablo; Clint Elsholz, Acting Diablo Range District Superintendent for California State Parks; and Robert Phelps, PhD, Executive Director of California State University, East Bay Concord Campus will then speak.

Pearl Harbor survivors in attendance will be introduced by Wayne Korsinen, honorary member of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors.

A performance of “God Bless the USA” by Erin Hegerty and guitar solo by Darren Brouestle will follow. Then Catharine Baker, former State Assemblymember, will speak. Afterwards, Frank Dorritie of Bugles Across America will perform “Taps.” At 5 PM, the Beacon will be lit.

“The Beacon lighting is a tribute to those individuals that lost their lives at Pearl Harbor,” remarked Earl “Chuck” Kohler, the last known remaining serviceman survivor in Contra Costa County.

The ceremony is also an opportunity to honor the survivors.

The ceremony will also be broadcast on Contra Costa Television during the following dates and times:

• Wednesday, December 14 at 7 PM
• Thursday, December 15 at 2 AM
• Saturday, December 17 at 5:30 PM
• Monday, December 19 at 8 PM
• Tuesday, December 20 at 10 AM
• Wednesday, December 21 at 5 PM
• Thursday, December 22 at 6 PM

The Beacon on Mount Diablo was originally installed and illuminated in 1928 to aid in transcontinental aviation. It is one of the four guiding beacons installed along the west coast by Standard Oil of California and is the only one known to still be operational.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Beacon’s light was extinguished during the west coast blackout, for fear it could enable an attack on California. It stayed dark until Pearl Harbor Day in 1964, when Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander in Chief of Pacific Forces during World War II, relit the Beacon in a commemorative ceremony and suggested it be illuminated every December 7th to honor those who served and sacrificed.

Since that day, Pearl Harbor veterans and their families have gathered every December 7th to see the Beacon light shine once again.

The Beacon now shines brighter than ever since it underwent an extensive restoration process in 2013 (thanks to a campaign led by Save Mount Diablo) to ensure it continues to shine for many more years. The Pearl Harbor Survivors now know that the Beacon will shine long after they are gone.

The Beacon is lit at sunset and shines all night on this evening each year. Beginning this year, it was also lit on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. On Sunday, April 11, 2021, Save Mount Diablo concluded a year of lighting the Beacon weekly to bring light and hope to our region during the worst of the pandemic.

About Save Mount Diablo

Save Mount Diablo is a nationally accredited, nonprofit land trust founded in 1971 with a mission to preserve Mount Diablo’s peaks, surrounding foothills, watersheds, and connection to the Diablo Range through land acquisition and preservation strategies designed to protect the mountain’s natural beauty, biological diversity, and historic and agricultural heritage; enhance our area’s quality of life; and provide educational and recreational opportunities consistent with protection of natural resources. To learn more, please visit www.savemountdiablo.org.

What:  Save Mount Diablo; the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Chapter 5; and California State Parks will light the “Eye of Diablo,” the Beacon atop Mount Diablo to memorialize National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. As the number of survivors has decreased over the years, the number of people attending the ceremony in honor of these heroes has increased, including many sons and daughters vital to organizing the service.

When: Wednesday, December 7th, 2022

USS Arizona viewing begins at 3:00 PM, ceremony at 3:45 PM, Beacon lighting at 5:00 PM

Where: The ceremony will be held at the California State University, East Bay Concord Campus, 4700 Ygnacio Valley Road, in Concord.

Directions: http://goo.gl/maps/jXhcW

Access: Parking is available on campus, and parking fees will be waived for this event. See campus map.

For more information on the Beacon visit: https://savemountdiablo.org/experience/events-outings/beacon-lighting/

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Joined by past Antioch Veterans of the Year and a representative from Congressman Mark DeSaulnier’s office, Autrey James (center) and Pat Jeremy (right) were honored as 2022-23 Antioch Veterans of Year during the annual Veterans Day ceremony on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. Photos by Allen D. Payton

Veterans of the Year announced

By Allen D. Payton

On Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, Antioch veterans were honored during a ceremony in which the Veterans of the Year were named and the 25th anniversary of the Veterans Memorial monument was celebrated, followed by the parade down W. Second Street. The ceremony also featured speeches by U.S. Coast Guard veteran, Autrey James, the past Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the American Legion, Department of California, and student speakers, Bryce West of Belshaw Elementary and Oghenerun’or Pinnock of Deer Valley High.

Organized by the Delta Veterans Group and led by J.R. Wilson and Velma Wilson, the ceremony began with an opening prayer by Father Robert Rien of St. Ignatius Catholic Church, then the Antioch Police Department Honor Guard provided the Presentation of the Colors and the Raising of the American Flag in the center of the Veterans Memorial at the foot of L Street. The Pledge of Allegiance was then led by Matthew Wilson followed by the singing of the National Anthem by Claryssa Wilson.

The combined marching bands from Antioch High and Deer Valley High Schools performed the anthems of each branch of the U.S. military during the ceremony.

Veterans of the Year

Pat Jeremy was then honored as the 2022-23 Veteran of the Year for his work with local efforts by Antioch’s 2021 Veteran of the Year Bill Ridle who was joined by other past Antioch Veterans of the Year. He was presented with a plaque, Certificate of Recognition from Congressman Mark DeSaulnier and a special jacket with his name and honor embroidered.

James was also honored as the 2022-23 Lifetime Veteran of the Year James and was also presented with a plaque, Certificate from DeSaulnier and a special jacket embroidered with his name and honor.

Oakview Memorial Park was honored as the Presidential Veteran Supporter. Managing Partner Jarrod Bolliger was joined by J.R. Wilson and a representative of Congressman Mark DeSaulnier’s office.

New awards were presented this year, including the Presidential Veteran Supporter for a business to Oakview Memorial Park represented by Managing Partner Jarrod Bolliger.

Debbie Jeremy and her son Tim were honored as Veteran Volunteers and joined by J.R. Wilson and a representative of Congressman Mark DeSaulnier’s office.

The Veteran Volunteer Supporters awards were presented to Debbie Jeremy, her son Tim Jeremy, and Pat Dorn and his son, Gavin for their work with veterans including the bi-annual Stand Down on the Delta.

Pat Dorn and his son, Gavin were also honored as Veteran Volunteers and joined by J.R. Wilson and a representative of Congressman Mark DeSaulnier’s office.

Veterans Memorial 25th Anniversary

During the ceremony, Janice Silva-Moore, owner of Silva’s Family Memorials and her brother and Jack da Silva were recognized as the Antioch Veterans Memorial’s 25th Anniversary monument was celebrated. Approved by the city council in 1996, it was created by the company under the then-ownership of their father John Silva, affectionately known as “Chiseler” and erected later that year. It honors all five branches of the U.S. military.

Joined by members of the city council and Delta Veterans Group, Janice Silva-Moore (second from left) and her brother Jack da Silva were recognized during the brief celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Antioch Veterans Memorial.

According to the company, the senior Silva, with more than 20 years of experience, purchased the Vallejo Monument Company in 1974 and the Antioch Memorials property in 1975. A second-generation memorialist, John, merged the two to become Silva’s Memorials. He was a veteran, as well, having served in the U.S. Army as a Military Police Officer, rising to the rank of corporal while stationed in Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.

Mayor Pro Tem Mike Barbanica (left) with the Silvas at the Antioch Veterans Memorial monument.

In 1995, a national competition was announced seeking proposals for a new Antioch Veterans Memorial. A call for submissions was issued, sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6435 members and the City of Antioch. Several design criteria were incorporated to meet the needs determined by the VFW and Design Committee. Those were established to ensure a patriotic aesthetic, ongoing durability and a respectful presence.

The monument sits at the foot of L Street between the entrances of the Antioch Marina and Boat Launch parking lots

Other Presentations

That was followed by a presentation by Rich Hiebert about his great uncle, entitled “Killed in Action the Story of Lloyd Hiebert” who died in the Philippines during World War II on July 30, 1945.

Antioch Chamber executive, Daniel Sohn, spoke briefly as the California Board Member of the U.S. Selective Service System, about 18-year-old males being required to register for the military.

Sponsors

The day’s events were sponsored by VFW Post 6435, American Legion Post 161, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 154, Antioch Rivertown Veterans Lions Club, Delta Veterans Group, Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill, Tri Delta Transit and the City of Antioch.

Parade & Bell Ringing

The ceremony was followed by the parade in historic downtown Rivertown beginning at 11:00 a.m. win honor of the end of World War I with the signing of the armistice at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. The parade was briefly stopped for the ringing of the bell at El Campanil Theatre which sounded 11 times.

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