Local News in Brief : Statue Honors Merchant Seamen
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A 20-foot-tall bronze statue honoring merchant seamen who served in wartime was mounted on its base Monday in front of the Los Angeles Maritime Museum in San Pedro.
The 2,100-pound statue, which depicts two merchant marines climbing a Jacob’s ladder after making a rescue at sea, is believed to be the first national memorial to merchant seamen in the United States.
After the mounting, which was accompanied by a saxophonist playing “Amazing Grace,” about 50 people, many of whom served as merchant seamen during World War II, participated in a ceremony to remember the 5,600 merchant seamen who lost their lives during the war.
The statue and the 8,400-square-foot base, which will include a circular pool and a fountain when completed, will be officially unveiled at a ceremony next May 22, National Maritime Day.
The $700,000 project has been funded by donations from private and public organizations.
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