Lou Conter, the last living survivor on board the USS Arizona during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, died earlier this month at age 102. President Biden hailed Conter as a hero, and a memorial service will be held in his hometown of Grass Valley on Tuesday morning at St. Patrick’s Church.
The service is open to the public, and organizers expect 100% capacity. The Grass Valley Police Department will enforce traffic closures in the area of the church from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for pedestrian safety.
The memorial will conclude with a procession to St. Patrick’s Cemetery on West Main Street, which the public is invited to line the sidewalks along South Church and West Main to view.
Last year, Conter shared his story and recollections about the attack on Pearl Harbor with KCRA 3. “There was no time to do anything,” Conter said. “It happened so fast.” Twenty-one ships were sunk or significantly damaged, and 2,400 Americans were killed, with another 1,100 wounded.
