UNITED STATES SUBMARINE VETERANS
Memorial Service for
SUBMARINERS ON ETERNAL PATROL
At
Arlington National Cemetery
25 May 2002 at 1:00 PM
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This Memorial Day weekend service is held to recognize the importance of the sacrifices made by the sailors that have gone before us. It is but our duty to honor these men and ALL Submariners that made the supreme sacrifice for their country!
The ceremony provides a deep and lasting link to our submarine heritage, a true sense of meaning for some of the descendants and relatives that will be in attendance. The descendants/relatives of lost submariners will be asked to stand and be recognized. Our heartfelt recognition goes out to them, for this is why we are here to carry out the creed of the USSVI.
Who gave their lives
In the pursuit of their duties
While serving their country"
For those of you that have lived in submarines, whether you believe this or not, it is in our blood - our heritage - our legacy. As a crewmember, an integral part of a vessel created and put together by the blood, sweat, and tears of man together with our brothers we served our country at the mercy of the mighty sea and our Creator. For as our base chaplain/rabbi so accurately put it. "All submariners are brothers - We just haven't met yet!"
Our honored guest speaker will be, Captain Edward L. Beach USN Retired. We are trying to get another person, but don’t have official confirmation yet.
Capt. Beach, a veteran submariner, who has devoted his career to our country and the submarine service will provide inspiration and reflection from WWII to present.
On 25 March 1915 the USS F-4 sank in 51 fathoms, 1-˝ miles from the harbor. The naval authorities at Honolulu quickly found the sunken submarine, but despite valorous efforts to save her crew, all 21 perished. Seventeen of those body’s remains were interred at a lonely common gravesite at Arlington marked only by a single stone:
SEVENTEEN
UNKNOWN
US SAILORS
MARCH 25, 1915
This was our Submarine Force's 1st major submarine disaster.
These gallant crewmembers are our pioneers of the submarine service and its first major submarine disaster/loss. For this nation’s SUBMARINE PIONEERS, this was VERY SAD—even thought it was the technology of submarines at the time. Their loss equates to be of no less significance than that of the loss of the Space Shuttle CHALLENGER.
USSVI members conducted research to identify who these unknowns were. With much cooperation and tireless efforts from many, these submariners were given their identity back!
The "Tolling of the Boats" portion of the ceremony will have a most special meaning!
The ship's bell off the USS SQUALUS SS-192 will be present to ring for each of the US submarines lost since the inception of the United States Submarine Service in 1900.
As the service is held, it is meant to reach into the soul and heart of all!
We, in this submarine veterans group, can't help but feel the spirit of those men—“Our Submarine Pioneers" and ALL SUBMARINERS THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE US—the realization of the presence of a greater being with us in our endeavor.
"Submariners on Eternal Patrol"
For those in the area or who can attend the service:
The Location of the headstone for the F-4 crewmembers buried at Arlington National Cemetery is Section 2. Proceed from MAIN ENTRANCE up ROOSEVELT DRIVE towards intersection of ROOSEVELT and McCLELLAN DRIVE. Marker is on the right side approximately 100 Feet prior to the intersection, 5 rows up.