Nearly 50 people, including three former Santa Monica mayors, local peace activists, artists, and the wife and son of the late 3-time Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist Paul Conrad, gathered Tuesday, September 4, 2012, at Conrad's iconic 26-foot-tall nuclear mushroom cloud public art peace sculpture to remember the legendary artist and sculptor on the 2nd anniversary of his passing on September 4, 2010, and to call on the City to help save and restore the threatened sculpture that has been standing in the Civic Center since 1991.

Speaking at the candlelight vigil were former Santa Monica mayors James Conn, Michael Feinstein, and Judy Abdo. Ms. Abdo was on the City Council when they voted to approve the gifted "Chain Reaction" sculpture in 1990.
Also speaking was Paul Conrad's wife Kay Conrad and their son David Conrad. Other speakers included peace activists Jerry Rubin, Cris Gutierrez and Randy Ziglar; Paul Conrad documentary filmmaker Barbara Multer- Wellin; art therapist Marissa Rubin; and Ken Kutcher, an attorney with the law firm of Harding Larmore Kutcher & Kozal, who is representing David Conrad in efforts to save his father's signature sculpture.

Vigil participants lit candles and joined in a "Human Chain of Support" encircling the recently landmarked monument. Packets of wildflower seeds from Paul Conrad's funeral were planted in front of the sculpture. All the vigil participants then watered the newly planted seeds from a special water container decorated with peace symbols