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Since 1776 and the Revolutionary war, America has depended upon
merchant ships and the crews who have sailed in them.
A continent was joined together in the mid
19th century by merchant clipper ships that rounded treacherous Cape
Horn and sailed to California's Golden Gate. The toll in human life
was great by from the Atlantic to the Pacific, we were linked, as a
people and a nation.
During World War II, America was unprepared
for an enemy submarine onslaught and our merchant ships were
devastated even in sight of our own shores. Before final victory was
won, 700 American merchant ships were lost and over 6,600 mariners
had given their lives in battle.
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Time Capsule
The
6700 merchant seamen lost during World War II, as well as those
lost during World War I have been placed in the time capsule
inside the monument. |
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Once
again, during 1990 and early 1991, our merchant mariners effectively
manned cargo ships in support of our military forces in Operation Desert
Storm.
Despite such service to our nation, rarely
has the merchant mariner been
recognized for a role proven essential from 1776 until today. The
very fact
that the mariner has served often fails to fully reach the public.
The American Merchant Mariner's Memorial
brilliantly translated into bronze
by the famed sculptor Marisol, is sited at waters edge in the
historic Port
of New York. May this monument foster greater public awareness that
our
Country is and should be a great maritime nation. May we forever
remember
the sacrifices made by our merchant mariners.
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Designed by Colonel Jonathan
Williams, this brownstone fortification at the tip of Manhattan was
completed in 1811. It was positioned there to prevent enemy vessels
from attacking New York City.
Between 1855 and 1890, served as the New York immigrant
receiving station, welcoming some 8 million new Americans.
The Mariners
Memorial is adjacent to Castle Clinton just at water edge.
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