Merchant Mariners Memorial | Marisol Escobar

Situated on a stone breakwater off the shore of Battery Park's north end and just south of Pier A, is a bronzed sculpture of three seamen in a lifeboat, one of them reaching into the sea to save a drowning shipmate. If the sculpture's depiction of heroism rings true, that's because it is.

Artist Marisol Escobar drew inspiration for his design for the Merchant Mariners Memorial from an actual photograph, taken by Nazi soldiers after their U-boat had scuttled a merchant marine ship during World War II. Fittingly, the sculpture commemorates the heroic service of the merchant marines who faced down perilous submarine attacks in that war.

The sculpture was dedicated in 1991, and every year since then, a commemorative ceremony has been held on National Maritime Day to pay homage to the American merchant mariners who have lost their lives protecting our country.

By Tom