Mount Diablo State Park’s Beacon, nicknamed the “Eye of Diablo” will be lit after sunset tonight in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Thereafter, until the pandemic crisis is over, the Beacon will be lit every Sunday after sunset and shine brightly until sunrise the next day.
Ted Clement, Executive Director of Save Mount Diablo, stated, “Lighting the Beacon every Sunday is a way to honor our heroes in this global pandemic struggle, to pay our respects to the dead and those suffering, to lift our eyes to higher ground and the light and be reminded of the healing power of nature and our Mount Diablo, and to bring our communities together during this difficult time.”
Save Mount Diablo staff and volunteers will be working on lighting the Beacon every Sunday, and turning it off every Monday after sunrise, in close coordination with their good partners at California State Parks. Physical distancing will be followed throughout. This effort has also been coordinated with the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors, Chapter 5.
The beacon is usually only lit every December 7 in honor of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
Eduardo Guaracha, Diablo Range Superintendent of California State Parks, said, “As we look up in the sky, let this beacon remind us we are not alone. Our thoughts and support are with the heroes, healthcare and emergency workers, and all those affected by this worldwide pandemic. Let the light give us hope for a better future and remind us to keep our heads and spirits up.”
The Beacon on Mount Diablo was originally installed and illuminated in 1928 to aid in transcontinental aviation. It is one of the five 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 might enable an attack on California. It stayed dark until Pearl Harbor Day, 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 7 to honor those who served and sacrificed.
73 comments
nice gesture; don’t agree. Takes away from the special remembrance of Pearl. But, ok if you don’t agree with me.
I agree with you S.
I agree with you about this.
It was special because of it’s exclusivity. If you’re gonna shine it every time a bad wind blows, that’s almost disrespectful in a way. Good call S.
I agree. Are Clement and Guaracha trying to turn this into a “worship the light on the mountain”? Haha.
I completely agree.
I agree. My Dad was a Pearl Harbor Survivor and the beacon should only be used for remembering Pearl Harbor.
Agree. And who gets to decide when “the pandemic crisis is over”?
Agree. Diminishes the annual gesture.
I agree also. They mean well but it should only be used as a Pearl Harbor Memorial.
Totally agree with “S”. It’s a nice gesture but they shouldn’t use this beacon. The super said to look at the light and know we’re not alone. Seriously? Just leave this alone until December 7th, every year.
I think they should stick with lighting this light for Pearl Harbor!
I do agree…special for Pearl Harbor only..in a time when some want to rewrite history..
I think this is a fantastic idea. A glimmer of hope during the dark nights when people may feel uneasy and afraid. An honor to our heroes of past and present, and a tribute to those who have lost / are losing the battle. When this pandemic is over, it should be changed back to the original December 7 date each year, but in the meantime I feel like it’s a good thing for people to see each Sunday night and remember there is hope for our future. God bless all of us…..
I think it’s fantastic too. Our country has been attacked, and this is a glimmer of hope. People are losing their lives, jobs, homes, etc. Reminding us that we’re not alone is a good thing, and this light could mean a welcome relief to so many. It would be nice to see every Sunday night. We need to see lights shining brightly.
The day that lives in infamy matches SARS2? Why, in what warped … whatever … I do not agree with this at all. Stupid Stupid idea! They should be ashamed of themselves for this.
I agree with Admiral Nimitz. Oh, and everyone that agrees with S.
I hope people realize how serious this pandemic is now and will effect our world for a very long time. This is an important and impressive symbol of this deadly virus! We are very privileged to live in California now. For anybody that is not practicing social distancing and shelter in place, you obviously are not taking this seriously. This new idea of Mt. Diablo showing a bright light is a positive way to remind all of us to practice these new mandates so we can move on.
@popcorn
You wrote that it’s an important and impressive symbol of this deadly virus. That’s wrong. The beacon has absolutely NOTHING to do with this virus and it should be kept that way.
I see both sides, Pearl Harbor was special and you don’t want to cheapen the memory, however this virus is something we have not experienced before so a beacon of light sounds good, however it should go back to just be on Dec. 7, and not used every time there is some kind of crisis. As you can see I don’t have a firm opinion on this one. Whatever the decide to do would be ok with me.
Use unnecessary electricity when we don’t have any revenue to pay for it.
If they want to light it for something other than Pearl Harbor, it should be on 9/11, not for some germ.
I think it’s a great idea! I will never forget it’s relation to Pearl Harbor, but I can’t tell you how many years I’ve missed it due to bad weather and a busy life. Let’s use this to teach and remind our children the original story and now a new story of hardship, suffering, courage, community, hope, love and peace for all humanity.
Lame.
Is that a essential business??????????
There is no need to light that. We all need to quit being so soft.
Why do people feel the need to criticize every single thing? We’ve lost far more people from this disease than Pearl Harbor and 9/11 combined. It’s a nice gesture. Leave it at that. Does it really affect you in any real way? Unless it’s shining directly in your bedroom window, shut up.
Some people are happier than others. Be thankful that you see this in a positive light. You understand why they’re doing this, and so do I.
Every year since 1964 it has been for illuminated one night in honor Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, and there is a ceremony on the evening of December 7th when survivors of Pearl Harbor are present. There aren’t many left anymore and each year there are fewer, but it’s a wonderful remembrance ceremony. I’m kicking myself once again for missing it last year. I let myself get talked into doing something else (it also happens to be on the anniversary of my birth, and the first historically important date I can remember learning about🙂). I won’t make the same mistake again if I get another chance to go, that is. Personally I just don’t like the thought of those who survived the attack living to see the dimming of their day of remembrance.
I understand your point. What some people are missing is this was originally installed in 1928 to aid in transcontinental aviation. I know a Pearl Harbor survivor (there aren’t many left). He’s in his late 90s, and he thinks this is wonderful. This isn’t diminishing the annual gesture. This is heartwarming solidarity, and I’m saddened by people who don’t see it that way. We can agree to disagree.
@MJ – when one calculates the mortality rate of the Pearl Harbor attack versus Coronavirus as a function of the population under attack, your conclusion is wrong by several orders of magnitude.
@KD – “This isn’t diminishing the annual gesture.” As you pointed out, we can agree to disagree. Even with Pearl Harbor survivors.
This is actually very simple. America has always found unique ways of honoring individuals, groups, army’s, event’s, and even animals. We as a nation can find a different way to honor the people and events of this crisis. It’s not only disrespectful to pilfer another honorees method or vehicle, it’s downright lazy. That’s not how Americans roll.
Put some thought into it and come up with an idea.
This reminds me of Animal House….
Otter: “I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part.”
Bluto: “And we’re just the guys to do it”.
Off the subject, but I love Animal House especially Otter, reminds me of an old boyfriend.
Agree with other comments, all in all too much complaining on every little thing.
“Agree with other comments, all in all too much complaining on every little thing.”
Then just read the articles. No requirement to read the commentary.
This lamp is for Pearl Harbor day. I would also say to eliminate the light on 9/11. Lighting it for Corona virus is a silly idea.
The only people who will see it are the ones doing 140 MPH down highway 4.
hey … anybody know the name of the mountain before it was “branded diablo?”
The Ohlone referred to it as “Spirit Mountain.” Something got lost in translation.
Nobody wants to be reminded of Corona or Gavin. They are in our faces and feed everyday.
LOL Aunt Barbara! I love it!!!!!!!
Right. Just force reality way down inside and ignore it. Heaven forbid you should learn from it.
If you look it from a number of deaths perspective then covid-19 will dwarf those lost at Pearl Harbor. No disrespect to those lost on Dec 7th.
Stop,
So…are you for it, or against it?
Or are you implying that sheer body count is the determining factor?
I don’t really care either way. To be honest I’ve never seen the light on in my life. Lived around here since 1975. It’s fantastic that it has been a tradition for Pearl Harbor but I never knew about it. There is much more than just a body count to this virus thing. We have many families grieving, not to mention what is likely to be catastrophic economic damage that will take many years to overcome. CoVid-19 will turn out to be a much, much bigger problem than we are realizing today.
Once again, Pearl Harbor was a tragedy no doubt. I do not belittle, in any way, what happened on that terrible day.
#mevezi…you might try https://www.savemountdiablo.org/faq-items/name-mount-diablo-come/ for a suggestion as to how Mt Diablo got it’s name.
Having had it up to here with the coronavirus stuff, I really hate to see it get “attached” to the lighting of the beacon on Mt. Diablo.
They can do it every year from now.
We are all in this together.
You have to have known the fear gripping the country during WWII to understand why any other lighting is trivializing the significance of Pearl Harbor. Loved ones were deployed to fight the enemy leaving behind frightened wives and children who were rationed staples and lived daily with the knowledge their husbands and fathers could become a grim statistic of war. The photos coming back from the front lines were horrifying as Americans died fighting for their country. California went to blackout conditions as Japanese submarines cruised off the coast. There were thought to be spies for the Japanese, who were intent on world domination, in most urban areas of California. It drove the government to move Japanese to internment camps in California, the fear was so great. It was a sneak attack completely unexpected and painfully demonstrated the country’s vulnerability and lack of preparedness. The times were terrifying. So terrifying, in fact, that scientists went to work developing atomic weapons and these weapons decimated Japan and forced their surrender. .Nothing before or since bears any resemblance to the war the country fought in WWII. Even comparisons to the Korean and Vietnam war, as bad as they were, fall short. There is absolutely no measure of similarity to a coronavirus epidemic … although some are trying to make this more than it actually is.
Nice essay Gittyup. Beyond the event itself, the impact on society of WWII dwarfs anything the coronavirus will create in the future as far as I can tell. Because of WWII, huge numbers of the population moved from farms to military and industry and with the GI bill and mobility helped usher in a massive transformation in society with a much higher skilled workforce and suburban lifestyle. The 1930s look nothing like the 1950s and continued evolution into the 1960s. There will be much short term pain with the coronavirus, but I just fail to see any massive societal changes from it. Perhaps I’m lacking in imagination at the moment.
I thought Mt’ Diablo was closed. Or is that just for the common folk?
Looking forward to seeing the beacon lit tonight. As many have stated, the enormity of this pandemic is perhaps unparalleled since WWII. Shining the light now to inspire unity in our area does not disrespect the annual lighting on December 7th. Adding something, does not mean taking away…it just means that the light can be a symbol for more than one thing. Right now, we need an affirmation that the sacrifice we are all making to self-isolate will ensure our future. The light is appropriate as it can be seen throughout a large area of the county. Kudos to the lightkeepers!
These events are two very different things.
Regarding Pearl Harbor, it makes sense to celebrate the veterans that gave their lives for our country. Young people should learn about the character and bravery of these people, and the beacon is an annual reminder of that.
We will be reminded of the Coronavirus every time we go to the grocery store and talk to the cashier through plexiglass. Those families that have lost loved ones have their own very personal memories.
These two very different events should each have their own light bulb.
Take a deep breath and light up the sky.
I’m enjoying taking good deep breaths. I haven’t breathed so much good air around here since the 1950s.
As I look at the light on Mt. Diablo, I will remember the lives lost at Pearl Harbor and throughout World War II, not some little flu bug that has everybody acting stupid. And, there’s nothing you can do about it!
Thanks for the perspective in your previous post. It’s to bad so many of our community do not understand.
Some “little flu bug”? Surely you jest. This bug has killed over 20000 in the US since it began just a few months ago.
@anotheranon…That’s <.006% of the US population, how many have died from other reasons in that timeframe?
When I look at the lighted beacon on Mt. Diablo, I am going to remember all those who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor, and all those who fought and died protecting my freedoms in World War II. And, there is nothing you can do about it.
What a strange way of looking at things.
Well…..CDC estimates that influenza was associated with more than 35.5 million illnesses, more than 16.5 million medical visits, 490,600 hospitalizations, and 34,200 deaths during the 2018–2019 influenza season (Oct. – May).
So maybe we ought to spark up that light every Thursday too?
Well Brandi I’m so sorry that you feel this virus was not serious enough compared to seasonal influenza. And do you look at events like Pearl Harbor or 9/11 as percentage of the US population too?
I have always wished that the beacon would shine EVERY night. The special program for the veterans on December is a magnificent idea, but seeing a light every night would honor them even more often and would be a unifying focus reminding each of us to be strong, to pull together to be victorious against this pandemic, and never to lose hope.
Another symbolic practice might serve as a clarifying example: our nations flag is flown at half mast when a president dies, but …. without diminishing the level of THAT sort of respect in the least…. the flag also is lowered to half staff for many other legitimate reasons.
In this case, it would remind us to CO-OPERATE with the “battle plan” (and with one another) and to be brave. STAY THE COURSE!!!!!
Oh brother, so dumb. But maybe they can give the job of turning on the light to some hospital worker who’s had their hours reduced or furloughed since almost everywhere there’s no surge, just absurd, panic-inducing, and quite wrong models.
Standard Oil of California installed the beacon in 1928 as part of a transcontinental system of lights that were followed by early airliners. The light was turned off after the attack on Pearl Harbor, in order to abide by blackout rules. In 1964, Admiral Nimitz suggested that the light be ceremonially turned on again every Dec. 7th.
The Beacon had become terribly rusted and could barely work, until Save Mt. Diablo had it refurbished in 2013 at a cost of $100,000. The State Park had no money towards repairing it.
I wont mention the name of the manufacturer of the new 1500 watt halogen bulb and what country it came from. It would just give the notorious Claycord “complainers” something to whine and cry about.
Fascinating info. Thank you for her posting that.
Halogen?!?!?
Why hasn’t this been retrofitted with LED yet? This one’s on Gavin and the Wiener groupies.
So 1791 is also an expert in high powered lighting? Why not, he knows everything and everything else too? The light refurb was assisted by some retired Chevron engineers, so give them credit for that too.
Perhaps if they put a colored filter over the light so that it shines differently than the Pearl Harbor light. Otherwise it does take away from the whole Pearl Harbor remembrance event. Blue would be nice.
That’s a good idea Local Lady. If they insist on shining it for a pandemic death toll and it sounds like they do, blue would be nice.
I oppose the idea of hijacking the light from it’s current intended purpose, for any reason.
Then what’s next?
A rainbow colored lens for Pride Day? ….or week or whatever it is.
If we are going to trivialize it we might as well sell it to sponsors too, name it after Oracle, ATT, or how about Toyota?
The Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors, Chapter 5 are okay with this. They have happiness within, and it’s nice to see.
Comments are closed.