The Lei Cutting Ceremony
Co-Chair Marcus Hensley: We begin with a blessing by Perch Base Chapter's Chaplin Mike Olsen:
"Almighty God, you know the final dwelling place of generations of
Submariners who have given their lives for this country. We stand here
today to dedicate this humble memorial to honor the sacrifice and
history of those men who volunteered to serve their country in
Submarines, and especially those,...honored here,...who gave their lives
in this service. You have truly blessed America and we gratefully
acknowledge your grace and freedom.
Gracious
God, you have been faithful yet we have been forgetful. Forgive us
that it only takes one generation to forget the names of those who gave
their last full measure of service to our country. ....To those beyond
the Silent Service, they become a mere statistic, a faceless casualty.
Today we stand at this memorial to challenge that apathy. We forever,
hereby, enshrine the names of the lost Submarines and their crews. We
vow to not forget their sacrifice; that they not die in our often
distracted memory.
We stand here
with profound gratefulness, as we dedicate this monument to forever sit
on this hallowed ground. We pledge to treat it with dignity and every
once in a while to stop and bow our heads and remember. God bless this
ceremony of honor. God, bless America. We ask this in the name of our God and Savior. Amen."
|
 |
Co-Chair Marcus Hensley continues...
"I have heard
and used the expression that Submarining is a team sport many times over the
years. Today, I can tell you that
building a Submarine memorial is a team sport. Over the past 7 years there have been many people involved in moving
this along to what you see today. I want
to take a moment to recognize some of them. First, thank you to Sunland Construction who is our general contractor, Castle Steel who built the submarine, Nate Decker of the Block Project who is
our artist, sculptor, painter, and welder, Renee Palmer Stevens who is our
architect, Striking Stone who created our pavers and the engraving on the lost
boat wall, CACI International, Dillon’s KC Barbeque, and Freeport MacMoran who are
some of our major donors. Without these
companies being involved this thing would not have gotten built. To The veterans involved from the start when
it was simply a notion in 2013 to getting State approval and a Senate bill
passed in 2014 to the 5 years of concerted effort fundraising and seeking in
kind donations to finally starting construction during March of this year to
working on the project despite the challenges of 2020 to finally completing
this on site during one of the hottest summers on record have been nothing
short of amazing. Of course, I would
expect nothing less from Submariners." |
 |
Co-Chair Marcus Hensley reads the United States Submarine Veteran's creed:
"To
perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of their
duties while serving their country. That their dedication, deeds, and supreme
sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward greater accomplishments.
Pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United States of America and its
Constitution." It is to our nearly
4000 shipmates who remain on eternal patrol on our 65 lost boats that this
memorial has been built for and today I believe we have perpetuated their
memory." |
|
Co-Chair Marcus Hensley continues...
"The
traditional greeting of a Submarine returning home from a successful mission is
a Hawaiian Lei. Today for our ribbon we
will be using a Lei to carry on this tradition and to celebrate the successful accomplishment
of our mission to build this memorial. The Lei today is made up of Blue, Gold, and Silver. The Blue and Gold are the traditional colors
of the United States Navy. We also use
the Gold and Silver to symbolize the gold and silver dolphins which are the
symbol of a qualified Submariner. Although officers wear gold and enlisted wear silver we could not
succeed without both." |
USS Honolulu (SSN-718) |
Co-Chair Marcus Hensley announces:
"Now with
the cutting of the lei, I declare the Arizona Silent Service Memorial to be open
to the public."
 |
 |
 |
Arizona Silent Service Memorial Monument
stands in recognition to all who served in U.S. Navy Submarines
|
|
|
Lei Cutting by
ASSM Foundation Committee members Co-Chair Marcus Hensley, Secretary Marion Cartland, and Treasurer Joe Trotter. |
ASSM Foundation Committee Co-Chair Marcus Hensley welcomes visitors to tour the monument. |
|
