Today marks the 119th anniversary of the devastating 1906 Great Earthquake and accompanying fire that devastated San Francisco, resulting in over 3,000 casualties. New Mayor Daniel Lurie led the annual pre-dawn ceremony at Lotta's Fountain, emphasizing the city's resilience in the face of recent challenges. Traditional events included repainting a fire hydrant that saved the Mission District and paying tribute to Donna Ewald Huggins, who has portrayed Lillie Hitchcock Coit for 50 years. Her retirement was noted with a floral wreath, although she expressed a wish for her contributions to be celebrated more vibrantly.
"We've gone through some tough times recently," Lurie said at the early morning event, as seen in the NBC Bay Area coverage below. "But just like what happened in the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake, this city is coming together right now. It is a new day in San Francisco... We know that when we are at our best, we are the greatest city in the world."
As Huggins told the Chronicle this week, she's loved portraying Coit, firehat, speaking trumpet, and all for 50 years, but "It's time to pass on the speaking trumpet."
A wreath means you are going away. This was not what I had envisioned for today—it's important to celebrate contributions, not just mark an end.
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