A ceremony honoring the 320 men who lost their lives at Port Chicago will be held at 3:30 p.m. July 17 at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial.
The event marks the anniversary of the largest military disaster on the World War II home front on July 17, 1944, when two ships being loaded with ammunition exploded, destroying the surrounding area and sending out shock waves that could be heard and felt around the Bay Area.
The ceremony is being hosted by the National Park Service, East Bay Regional Park District, and Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial and is open to the public who register in advance. The event will also “celebrate the Centennial of the National Park Service and highlight the future Visitor Center planned jointly by the National Park Service and East Bay Regional Park District at the future Concord Hills Regional Park,” according to an NPS announcement.
Visitors will be able to tour the site of the planned regional park.
“Visitors will be shuttled to the site from the Pittsburg/Bay Point BART parking lot. Visitors with disabilities and those requiring special assistance will be permitted to park on-site.”
While admission tickets are free, visitors are asked to register first at portchicago72.eventbrite.com.
RELAY FOR LIFE: El Cerrito is lighting City Hall in purple and has declared July 16 and 17 at Relay For Life Days in the city.
The annual El Cerrito Relay For Life starts at 10 a.m. July 16 on the track at Cerrito Vista Park at Pomona Avenue and Moeser Lane and goes for 24 hours.
The fundraiser for American Cancer Society research and programs celebrates the lives of those who have battled the disease and those it has claimed. Cancer survivors walk the first lap.
Walkers circle the track relay-style, there is entertainment all day and a Luminaria Ceremony at 8:30 p.m.
So far there are 11 teams and 144 participants signed up for this years event and participants and volunteers are welcome to take part,
For details visit www.RelayForLife.org/ElCerritoCa
Contact Chris Treadway at 510-262-2784 or ctreadway@bayareanewsgroup.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/christreadway. Stay up-to-date on West Contra Costa news at IBABuzz.com/westcounty.
