A local veteran will be acting as the grand marshal in the upcoming 35th Bakersfield Christmas Parade, but with the event falling on the 76th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the day will likely mean even more to him.
"First thing we saw was an airplane flying over and dropping something and blowing up our airplanes," said Robert Cunningham when asked about his experience at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
"My battle station was on a 3-inch .50-caliber gun," he said.
The 94-year-old Cunningham lives in Lake Isabella now. He moved there to live near his son, who recently passed away. His wife is in a care home.
"I'm 94-years-old and I'm still going, enjoying life," he said.
Dick Taylor, director of the Kern County Veterans Services Department, says he believes Cunningham is the last survivor of Pearl Harbor still living in Kern County.
Cunningham says he's looking forward to Thursday's parade, and he appreciates the support after his service.
There will also be a few local memorials held on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day; you can learn more about those here.
