Ceremony honors submariners and those lost on board USS Scorpion
Groton — Veterans, service members, and families gathered Monday morning to honor the sacrifices of lost submariners and their legacy of "service above self" during a ceremony held by members of the U.S. Submarine Veterans Groton Base.
Attendees filled the seats at the Groton City Municipal Building to participate in the Memorial Day and USS Scorpion Remembrance Service that featured the Subvets' Color Guard, Tolling of the Boats, laying of a wreath, and speeches.
The service was originally slated to take place at the U.S. Submarine Veterans World War II National Submarine Memorial East, but was moved indoors due to the rain.
During the ceremony, Cmdr. Brian Tanaka, commanding officer of the USS Minnesota (SSN 783), reflected on the 99 sailors lost onboard the USS Scorpion (SSN 589) on May 22, 1968.
The USS Scorpion, which was constructed at Electric Boat, sank while en route to Norfolk, Va., after a deployment in the Mediterranean. A search began via ships and aircraft when the Scorpion didn't arrive at its destination on the scheduled arrival date of May 27, The Day reported. A ship found its remains in the fall.
The nation also lost Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy in that same year, Tanaka said. But in the face of adversity, hope was seen in the bravery of the families of the lost submariners, as well as the heroic search efforts.
Today, one may feel that hope has waned when listening to the news, said Tanaka. But he said he can see that "hope is alive."
"The memories of the Scorpion are near and the heroic sacrifice of those lost at sea remain the foundation of who we are as a country," he said. "I know this and I can see this today in every young man and woman who reports on board my ship."
"They come from every corner of the country, rich, poor, black, white, men and women," he added. "They come down the hatch one by one each day and they aggressively pursue perfection in a craft that provides little personal incentive other than the pride of a job well done, camaraderie with an elite group of professionals and satisfaction from a mission accomplished. The men and women who serve are an extraordinarily selfless group."
Later in his speech, Tanaka discussed how to honor — throughout the year and for future generations — the service men and women who have been lost. He said that we can "live our lives more like the heroes we honor today" and that their stories deserve telling and re-telling. Their "legacy of service above self" can be something past and present service members can strive for every day.
The ceremony featured the Tolling of the Boats to remember all lost submariners and the men on the USS Scorpion. Naval Submarine School members held flags of the submarines, and a bell rang for each submarine.
Before the Tolling of the Boats — a tradition passed down from submarine veterans of World War II — the World War II veterans in attendance were applauded.
Also during the ceremony, Al Kinsall, base commander for the U.S. Submarine Veterans Groton Base, noted the history of Memorial Day, as well as the sacrifices of those onboard the USS Scorpion.
"We shall remember these men and all those who have died while serving our country," he said.
Jeff Walsh, master of ceremonies for the event and house committee chairman for the base, said the service members honored Monday "came from all walks of life, but they share several fundamental qualities."
"They possess courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty, and integrity," he said. "All the qualities needed to serve a cause larger than oneself."
Among the attendees of the ceremony were Groton City Mayor Marian Galbraith and state Rep. Aundre Bumgardner, R-Groton.
George Patenaude, who served as a torpedoman's mate during the Vietnam War, attended Monday's service with his wife, Shirley.
They said that they come to the Memorial Day service every year to honor all the veterans and the ceremony is always impressive.
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