TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Dark storm clouds held back the rain from pounding the pavement until the end of the Pearl Harbor Day Remembrance Ceremony in downtown Bakersfield. A small crowd gathered before the Veteran's Memorial Monday afternoon to honor loved ones who served and lost their lives 68 years ago.

"It was kind of divine intervention. God might have opened up the skies. I think it was supposed to be like that," said South High teacher and Highland High football coach Marc Sandall, who organized and emceed the ceremony.

The gloomy weather did not stop those who came to remember the historic day. The Associated Veterans Honor Guard participated in the rifle salute, while widows of Pearl Harbor survivors attended the ceremony to remember their husbands.

"I've been coming to the Pearl Harbor ceremonies for 20 years. As long as I am able I will be here," said 85-year-old Lonnie Johnson, whose husband, Roy Johnson, died in 2000.

Lonnie Johnson and her husband would fly to Hawaii every year to visit the memorial site, and Lonnie has continued this tradition since her husband's death.

Roy Johnson joined the Navy at 17 years old and was only in over a year before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He ultimately served in the Navy for seven and a half years.

At Monday's ceremony, the widows were escorted by the West High School Color Guard to lay festive wreaths adorned with poinsettias, pearls and patriotic ribbons before the memorial. To the right of the fountain, pictures of the widows' husbands were displayed.

West High School's Naval JROTC Color and Honor Guard participated in the flag salute. Members of the Honor Guard each stood in front of the flag poles showing respect to veterans.

"I felt honored because I get to see veterans. It really touches me and gives me the confidence in joining the military," said West High School's Color Guard Cadet Lt. Senior Staff Officer Pinkie Vines.

One person Sandall wanted to pay special thanks to was Fran Ramirez, who is the District 15 Auxiliary Chaplain of Kern County and is dedicated to supporting veterans.

"They took the time to serve and I have the time to help them -- always," said Ramirez, who pinned red, white and blue ribbons to the jackets of attendees.

This was the first afternoon ceremony that has been organized in Bakersfield.

The city's traditional morning ceremony was also held at Union Cemetery, as it has been for more than 20 years. That one started at 9:55 a.m., which was the time Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on California time. The four Pearl Harbor survivors from Kern were named at the ceremonies.

Sandall said that since people work and cannot always attend the morning ceremony, this year the smaller lunchtime version was added for those who work and wanted to pay a tribute.

"I wanted to support fellow vets. It's a day that a lot of people forget," said Henry Benavidez, who looked up his name in the Kern Veteran's Memorial Foundation kiosk that is open from 2 to 6 p.m. daily. Benavidez was in the Marine Corps for two years and encouraged community members to register names of family member veterans in Kern County.

As the ceremony came to a close and rain began to fall over the quiet crowd, Smiley Gonzalez, who is in the Associated Veterans Honor Guard, rang the bell four times, two times to signify the second generation of survivors' families and twice for those who survived.