In 1957, the Submarine Veterans of World War II National President, Bob Link, established a
Submarine Memorial Committee. It was their decision the submarine, USS Flasher (SS243),
moored in the Reserve Fleet at the U.S. Naval Submarine Base, Groton, CT, available from the
U.S. Navy and approved by Congress, would be chosen to be the Submarine Memorial with the
site to be in Groton. Knowing  it would be a multi-million dollar project, a goal of $2 million was
established. Committees were formed and fund raising drives throughout the country began their
preparations. The Submarine Memorial Fund Raising  Drive was officially started with a kick-off
dinner on November 12, 1960. The National Memorial Committee was appointed and fund
raising efforts were initiated  with contributions starting to come in. On September 1, 1961 LCDR
H.R. McPherson, USN (Ret) was hired as manager for the Submarine Memorial to coordinate
and oversee fund raising efforts. By mid-1962 it was realized and conceded that the cost to
renovate the USS Flasher (SS249) would be too costly to pursue and the goal established could
not be realized. In November 1962, the USS Flasher (SS249) was returned to the U.S. Navy. In
June 1963, the Flasher's conning tower, fairwater, and periscopes were given to the U.S.
Submarine Veterans of World War II. (The rest of the Flasher was scrapped.) In July 1964, the
Submarine Memorial became a reality with conning tower, fairwater, and periscopes from the
Flasher placed on a  concrete foundation at a site on Route 12 in Groton. During subsequent years
the Submarine Memorial was subjected to vandalism and inadequate maintenance. A decision was
made to relocate the Memorial to a tract of land, donated by the City of Groton, which also
accepted responsibility for maintenance of same.

The Submarine Memorial was relocated and rededicated as the National Submarine Memorial
(East) on September 28, 1974. Retired Navy Captain, George W. Grider, Commanding Officer of the USS Flasher (SS249) during World War II was the principal speaker. (It should be noted that the submarine Flasher recorded the highest tonnage record of any submarine in Naval warfare
history with a total of 24 ships and over 150,000 tons of enemy shipping sunk and became the
symbol for the Submarine Memorial.)

In the years following the dedication of the National Submarine Memorial (East), granite
stones, paying tribute to each one of the fifty-two submarines lost in World War II, have been
installed around the cement walks. The granite stones are engraved with the submarine name and
number, date lost, location, patrol number, how sunk, and how many lost.

Although the National Submarine Memorial pays tribute to the  fifty-two submarines lost and
their crew, it has always been desired to honor the crews individually. The Wall of Honor,
dedicated this date, September 2, 1995, accomplishes this long overdue tribute. Patterned after  the Vietnam Wall in Washington, DC, it has finally become a reality through the tenacity and
perseverance of the Wall of Honor Chairman, Robert H. Moore. Bob had to overcome many
obstacles, but with the help of an outstanding committee and the support of thousands who so
generously contributed, we can all be very proud of the National Submarine Memorial (East)
which now encompasses the beautiful Wall of Honor.

The list of the thousands of supporters is not printed in this book. However, we wish to
recognize those listed below for their extraordinary services and untiring efforts, without which the
Wall of Honor would not have been dedicated today.

City of Groton, CT
Town of Groton, CT
U. S. Naval Submarine Base, Groton, CT
The Day Newspaper
Bailey Insurance Agency, Groton, CT
S/M Force Library 8r Museum
Doherty, Beals, Banks, PC.
Lawrence G. Appleton
Robert Howie
Charles & Kelly Ivins
Harley Dodson (Deceased)
Capt. Stansel E. DeFoe, U.S.N.R. (Ret.)
John & Vivian Gregor
Ernest &Roger Potvin
Patricia Lindholm
Neal Bobruff
 

Facts concerning The Wall of Honor
 After acceptance and endorsement by the Thames River Chapter of the concept for the Wall in
1992, Barnes-Macrino Memorials in New London, Connecticut was selected as prime contractor
to construct the Wall. Designs, plans, and building permits were originated and then approved by
the City of Groton. Ten black granite panels were imported from quarries in the Province of
Transvaal, South Africa by the Rouleau Granite Company in Barre, Vermont. They began the long
and tedious process of cutting, grinding, and polishing to a mirror finish for the final task of
engraving the 3617 names of our departed shipmates.

Each of the Wall panels are 4 feet wide and 10 inches thick. The height of the panels in each
wing range from 5 feet on the end to 6 feet joining the white granite center panel which is 6 feet 3
inches high. Each wing extends from the center stone 20 feet.

One year ago today, September 2, 1994, Captain Amold E. Resnicoff, Command Chaplain
for the U.S. Naval Submarine Base, participated in a ceremony dedicating and blessing the site
upon which the Wall would be erected.

May God bless each and every one of you, who through your generous contributions enabled
the Committee Chairman, Robert Moore and his most capable staff to finally see their dreams and
hopes become a reality with the addition of the Wall of Honor to the National Submarine
Memorial (East) this day.