East Coast Memorial
Encyclopedia
The East Coast Memorial is a World War II war memorial
in Battery Park
in New York City
. It is one of three war memorials in the United States administered by the American Battle Monuments Commission
. The others are the West Coast Memorial
in San Francisco and the Honolulu Memorial.
The memorial commemorates U.S. servicemen who died in coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean
during World War II. A total of 4,609 names are inscribed on both sides of eight 19-foot-tall granite pylons. The pylons are arranged in two rows of four each. Between the two rows stands a bronze statue of an eagle, erected on a black granite pedestal. The eagle faces the Statue of Liberty
in New York harbor.
The memorial was designed by the architectural firm of Gehron & Seltzer. The eagle statue was created by Albino Manca, an Italian-born sculptor. The granite slabs were set up in October 1959, while the sculpture was installed on February 4, 1963.
The memorial was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy
on May 23, 1963 at a ceremony which included addresses by New York mayor Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
, Senate majority leader Mike Mansfield
, and the President. The destroyer USS Mitscher
fired a salute from nearby offshore.
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
in Battery Park
Battery Park
Battery Park is a 25-acre public park located at the Battery, the southern tip of Manhattan Island in New York City, facing New York Harbor. The Battery is named for artillery batteries that were positioned there in the city's early years in order to protect the settlement behind them...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It is one of three war memorials in the United States administered by the American Battle Monuments Commission
American Battle Monuments Commission
The American Battle Monuments Commission is a small independent agency of the United States government. Established by Congress in 1923, it is responsible for:...
. The others are the West Coast Memorial
West Coast Memorial to the Missing of World War II
The West Coast Memorial to the Missing of World War II is a monument dedicated to missing soldiers, sailors, marines, coast guardsmen, and airmen of World War II. It is a curved wall of California granite set in a grove of Monterey pine and cypress and overlooking the Pacific Ocean...
in San Francisco and the Honolulu Memorial.
The memorial commemorates U.S. servicemen who died in coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
during World War II. A total of 4,609 names are inscribed on both sides of eight 19-foot-tall granite pylons. The pylons are arranged in two rows of four each. Between the two rows stands a bronze statue of an eagle, erected on a black granite pedestal. The eagle faces the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
in New York harbor.
The memorial was designed by the architectural firm of Gehron & Seltzer. The eagle statue was created by Albino Manca, an Italian-born sculptor. The granite slabs were set up in October 1959, while the sculpture was installed on February 4, 1963.
The memorial was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
on May 23, 1963 at a ceremony which included addresses by New York mayor Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
Robert Ferdinand Wagner II, usually known as Robert F. Wagner, Jr. served three terms as the mayor of New York City, from 1954 through 1965.-Biography:...
, Senate majority leader Mike Mansfield
Mike Mansfield
Michael Joseph Mansfield was an American Democratic politician and the longest-serving Majority Leader of the United States Senate, serving from 1961 to 1977. He also served as United States Ambassador to Japan for over ten years...
, and the President. The destroyer USS Mitscher
USS Mitscher (DL-2)
USS Mitscher , named for Admiral Marc "Pete" Mitscher USN , was the lead ship of her class of destroyer of the United States Navy....
fired a salute from nearby offshore.
See also
- West Coast Memorial to the Missing of World War IIWest Coast Memorial to the Missing of World War IIThe West Coast Memorial to the Missing of World War II is a monument dedicated to missing soldiers, sailors, marines, coast guardsmen, and airmen of World War II. It is a curved wall of California granite set in a grove of Monterey pine and cypress and overlooking the Pacific Ocean...