This coming Monday, April 12, 2021, will mark the one-year anniversary and conclusion of Save Mount Diablo’s weekly Mount Diablo Beacon lightings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Sunday, April 11, the Mount Diablo Summit Beacon will be lit shortly after sunset. Then on Monday, April 12, Save Mount Diablo personnel will rest the Beacon shortly after sunrise.
The decision to conclude these efforts is based on the COVID-19 vaccines becoming increasingly well distributed.
The Beacon was originally lit by Charles Lindbergh in 1928 to assist in the early days of commercial aviation. The Beacon shone from the summit of Mount Diablo each night until December 8, 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
It was not relit until December 7, 1964, when Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander in Chief of Pacific Forces during World War II, attended a ceremony on Mount Diablo’s summit in commemoration of the survivors of Pearl Harbor. He suggested that the Beacon be lit every December 7 to honor those who served and sacrificed.
26 comments
“Eye of the devil”
Can we rename that’s stupid hill already? Somebody start the process please.
Before all you anger addicts talk crap, it would have been changed a long time ago if it was “Mount God” There is no reason we should live next to such a negatively named land feature.
Seems to me the anger addict talking crap is some guy named Sam. Considering all the religious Spanish names we have in California, I don’t believe it would have been changed if it was named Mount God, which in Spanish would be Monte Dios.
Now relax and enjoy life.
Ah, ok. So you’re not in favor of a name change? I enjoy life everyday. I just think Mount Diablo could use a new name that reflects a more positive world. You angry? Because your response sounded angry. It’s alright to disagree with me but you should try not to let my opinion anger you. It’s only an opinion. No reason to be angry big dawg.
Wow Sam, you part of the “Cancel Culture”? History is what History is and no matter what these people do they can never cancel out history. Sad that a lot of these people have never studied history except that was required in school which in Today’s world, isn’t what it used to be.
Your the negative one here, Sam!
Cancel culture is is actually communism. I am not a communist. I think the name sucks and could be better. I purpose the name Mt. Jesus. Now tell me why you have a problem.
Sam. Bite your tongue
Not all change is good
I always looked at is as a hill, not much of a mountain. Lol. It is a stupid name. Why did they name it that anyway? Is it cursed ? Does the devil visit it? Did devil worshippers live there at one time?
Not everything “diablo,” or devil, is bad. Take “devilish grin,” for example. Or, “devilishly handsome.” Or, “devilish sense of humor.” They don’t confer anything evil. I think Sam is taking the name in a fundamentalist, literal way, and I don’t think that allows for the variety of more pleasant expressions of what devil, or Diablo, means. I like the name “Diablo” and I wouldn’t want it changed.
Tell that to St. Peter when you’re in line for admission!
@Sam. I’m guessing that mountain already had a name used by the residents, the “natural born citizens” if you will, or perhaps the “original Claycordians”, long before the Spanish gave it that name you so despise. I’m even going to go out on a limb and guess that ACTUAL name of the mountain was in service for thousands of years without protest. I wish I knew what the actual name was.
We finally jettisoned the asinine “Mt. McKinley” and now recognize Denali as the proper name of the highest peak in North America. We should do the same for that magnificent mountain in our back yard.
I disagree that swapping out the name of one of the many Christian gods and demi gods for one of the other ones would alleviate the original problem.
Will miss it and thank all those who have been involved.
So many of us share your sentiments, Sam Malone.
Wow Sam calm down!!!
Good.
It used to be a special thing, and they cheapened it.
I respectfully disagree sir. There is room for respect in any age and special circumstances bring this to light……. we all can be proud of the efforts of many during Pearl Harbor and the ongoing pandemic.
@ Old Concordite, and I, sir or madam, respectively agree with Mitch. The Dec 7th lighting was unique and special. My kids had to endure every year being loaded up in the car, driving up Mitchell Canyon and hearing my Pearl Harbor speech, and to appreciate their grandfather that fought in the Pacific Theater.
I respect the decision of those in charge of the beacon, I just disagree with it.
Thank you Rolaids for the input. I applaud your efforts at instilling the virtue of educating your children with regard to the December 7th lighting and the history behind the event. Well done and thank you for sharing the family connection of your dad in the Pacific theater…. an often overlooked onslaught of aggression and courage.
We must never forget and the deeds you have drawn on will help preserve the memory…. 🇺🇸
Be well – and hopefully we can meet again on the mountain and light up the beacon this year in person on December 7th as it will be the 80th anniversary of the DAY THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY,
Go NAVY !
Is the current name actually hurting anyone?
I like “Mount Diablo” just fine myself, and I hope a lot of people come across the Benicia Bridge and the Antioch Bridge to enjoy it!
It never bothered me.
how about:
Mount (insert anything here as someone will take offense no matter what is chosen)
Next!
Much like the “stay at home” order I didn’t realize it was happening until it was gone.
I live in pleasant Hill overlooking the Diablo Valley. Love the Monday morning beacon – has been giving me hope … will miss it… thank you
Many thanks to the Save Mt. Diablo organization and their efforts to restore the beacon a bit ago and for keeping it lit this past year out of respect for the first responders during this unprecedented pandemic.
Also, we can continue to honor all the fallen heroes of Pearl Harbor each December 7th. as we will never forget the day of “ Infamy “ and the heroes that fought back during the Imperial Japanese Navy attack. Lest we forget …..🇺🇸
Be well – and continued good health to all.
@Sam….try going to “Mount Diablo Historical Society” and read about how Mt. Diablo got it’s name. I found the part about the Spanish being troubled by the ‘devilish’ actions of the American Indians interesting.
Simply an excuse Spanish soldiers invented to explain their inability to capture runaways.
“During the early years of the nineteenth century, missionaries were actively recruiting Indians for the missions. They wanted to baptize the Natives (and thus save their souls) and they needed workers for mission orchards, gardens, livestock-tending, and domestic work. When baptized Indians fled the missions and persuasion failed to get them back, soldiers were sent to retrieve them. In 1805 soldiers tried to capture Indians in a marsh north of Concord and, when the Indians completely disappeared into an eerie thicket in the night, the soldiers named the area “Monte Diablo” (thicket of the devil)”.
https://tinyurl.com/2u4upef2
This is the last night for the light until we honor our Pearl Harbor heroes and patriots this December 7, 2021. This December will be the 80th anniversary of the “the day that will live in infamy”. Always remember 🇺🇸
Thanks once again to our front line health providers and the volunteers from Save Mt. Diablo for their tireless efforts this past year lighting the beacon every Sunday night. Many thanks to all involved with the Eye of Diablo beacon from both Pearl Harbor Survivors and their families that have kept the flame alive since 1964.
A grateful and proud Contra Costa County resident. 🇺🇸
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