Lighthouse becomes a beacon again for ham radio event

Local radio amateurs with the Bayouland Emergency Amateur Radio Service say the Aug. 21-23 events at Lighthouse Park in Berwick kicked off the most successful special event station ever at the park.
The special event station put Berwick on the map for International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend, during which ham radio operators at those facilities around the world try to contact one another.
The first contact again this year was a friend of BEARS from Canada, Chris Bisaillion, VE3CBK of Ontario, Canada. Bisaillion was BEARS’ first contact last year and again this year.
At the end of the weekend Aug. 23, BEARS operators had logged in and spoken to 310 ham operators from London, Portugal, Ireland, Mexico and Brussels in addition to stations throughout the United States and five lighthouses.
A formal opening ceremony was held Saturday morning, with the flag raising and Pledge of Allegiance led by Boy Scout Troop 49, sponsored by VFW Post 4222.
A major part of the event was to let each Scout make three contacts on ham radio and talk to various hams throughout the country and one overseas contact.
The Scouts were a major part of the entire event and carried out their duty to perfection.
This is the sixth year that Bayouland Emergency Amateur Radio Service has held this event in Berwick.
This year marked the first year a brand new tri-band antenna was mounted on top of the tower, the Ray Rasberry Memorial Tower. Recognizing the importance of ham radio and this event to Berwick, Councilman Raymond Price purchased the new antenna, rotor and cables necessary and the members of BEARS installed all the equipment.
As a result of this operation, Berwick and the Southwest Reef Lighthouse will be well-known and recognized by an additional three hundred ten people throughout the United States and other countries, BEARS said.