The American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial in John S. Gibson Park, San Pedro, California, was commissioned to honor American merchant marine veterans from all wars. [1] It contains the bronze sculpture Jacob's Ladder by Jasper D'Ambrosi as its centerpiece, and includes a black polished granite memorial wall engraved with the names of merchant seaman lost at sea during time of war. D'Ambrosi designed the memorial in 1986 and it was cast at Arizona Bronze in Tempe, Arizona in 1987. [1] The public art work was dedicated in 1989. [2]
A bronze plaque at the memorial states: "The United States Merchant Marine has faithfully served our country in times of war and peace hauling cargo to every corner of the world. This Memorial is dedicated to those brave men and women of all races, creeds and colors who answered that call to serve." [1]
The sculpture depicts a merchant seaman helping another during a rescue at sea as they climb "a Jacob's Ladder symbolizing the dedication and sacrifices of American merchant marines. [1] It was designed by Jasper D'Ambrosi of Wilmington, California, and cast by his family foundry (Arizona Bronze). Soon after his original design was accepted and before he began the final model, D'Ambrosi died. In tribute to their father, his two sons, Marc D'Ambrosi and Michael D'Ambrosi, finished the sculpture's model, casting, and installation in 1987. [1]
Maya Ying Lin is an American designer, architectural designer, and artist who works in sculpture and land art. She achieved national recognition as a 21-year-old undergraduate at Yale University when she won a national competition to design the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., considered to be one of the most influential memorials of the post-World War II period.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a 2-acre U.S. national memorial in Washington, D.C. It honors service members of the U.S. armed forces who fought in the Vietnam War, service members who died in service in Vietnam/South East Asia, and those service members who were unaccounted for during the war.
San Pedro is a community within the city of Los Angeles, California. Formerly a separate city, it consolidated with Los Angeles in 1909. The Port of Los Angeles, a major international seaport, is partially located within San Pedro. The district has grown from being dominated by the fishing industry, to a working-class community within the city of Los Angeles, to a rapidly gentrifying community.
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Admiral David G. Farragut is a statue in Washington, D.C. honoring David Farragut, a career military officer who served as the first admiral in the United States Navy. The monument is sited in the center of Farragut Square, a city square in downtown Washington, D.C. The statue was sculpted by female artist Vinnie Ream, whose best known works include a statue of Abraham Lincoln and several statues in the National Statuary Hall Collection. The monument was dedicated in 1881 in an extravagant ceremony attended by President James A. Garfield, members of his cabinet, and thousands of spectators. It was the first monument erected in Washington, D.C. in honor of a naval war hero.
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Coordinates: 33°44′20″N118°16′48″W / 33.73877°N 118.27995°W