Submarine WWII Memorial, Burnsville
The memorial is formed by two terraced stone walls each about 30 feet long with a stone paver
patio in front. Two flower planters flank the memorial plaques on the lower of the two walls.
On the wall above the plaques is a ships anchor and chain with the letters USN attached. A
ships mast flying the American flag and two small submarine service flags stands behind the
upper wall and is framed by a third short wall section.
Images:
Chain and Anchor |
Harrell Flowers plaque |
Far-off side view |
Plaque with a list of submarines lost in WWII
THEY HAVE SLIPPED THEIR CHAINS AND ARE SAILING FREE WITH THE WIND
TO KEEP ALIVE THE MEMORY OF / 3505 SUBMARINE SAILORS AND 52 SUBMARINES / LOST IN
WWII WHO ARE ON ETERNAL PATROL / [Column one] USS SEALION / USS S-36 / USS S-26 / USS
SHARK I / USS PERCH / USS S-27 / USS GRUNION / USS S-39 / USS ARGONAUT / USS AMBERJACK
/ USS GRAMPUS / USS TRITON / USS PICKEREL / [Column two] USS GRENADIER / USS RUNNER /
USS R-12 / USS POMPANO / USS GRAYLINC / USS CISCO / USS S-44 / USS WAHOO / USS
DORADO / USS CORVINA / USS SCULPIN / USS CAPELIN / USS SCORPION / [Column three] USS
GRAYBACK / USS TROUT / USS TULLIBEE / USS GUDGEON / USS HERRING / USS GOLET / USS S-
28 / USS ROBALD / USS FLIER / USS HARDER / USS SEAWOLF / USS ESCOLAR / USS DARTER /
[Column four] USS SHARK II / USS TANG / USS ALBACORE / USS GROWLER / USS SCAMP / USS
SWORDFISH / USS BARBEL / USS TRIGGER / USS SADOK / USS LAGARTO / USS BONEFISH / USS
BULLHEAD
U.S. Submarine Veterans of North Carolina
June 7, 2003
35.950480 , -82.292150
View in Geobrowse
North Carolina Sub Vets, July-August- September 2003, (accessed April 4, 2016) Link
North Carolina Sub Vets, October-November- December 2003, (accessed April 4, 2016) Link
“Submarine Memorial – Tolling of the Boats,” YouTube, (accessed April 4, 2016)
“USA: ‘Tolling Of The Boats’ Ceremony Held To Honor Fallen Submariners,” NavalToday.com, (accessed April 4, 2016) Link
Yes
Local stone and concrete
Harrell Flowers
Subvets of NC hosted the dedication but due to rain Burnsville Mayor Michelle Lawhern allowed the group to use a courtroom in the county building for the ceremony. Command Master Chief Jeff Hudson from Submarine Group 10, Kings Bay, Georgia made a talk on the role of the submarine in the modern navy followed by a speech by Subvet member Bill Whelan. The preamble of the “Tolling of the Boats” (see subject notes) was read by Chuck Jensen. Mike Burkholder read the list of Lost Boats followed by a moment of silence for the 52 submarines that did not return from patrol in World War Two. A large bell was rung after the name of each boat was read. The dedication wreath was then presented before several sub veterans talked on their experiences in World War Two. The program was closed by the playing of taps, a prayer and the singing of the Navy Hymn. The weather improved later in the day and many were able to visit the memorial. The next day, Sunday July 8, several families gathered at the memorial and formally laid the wreath.
Although Burnsville, high in the mountains of North Carolina, may seem like a strange place to
build a memorial to submarine vets, the town does have a connection to naval history. It was
named after Ottaway Burns, a North Carolina native, who was a privateer during the War of
1812. The memorial was constructed by Harrell Flowers, a chief torpedoman who served on the
USS Gato during World War Two. He built the memorial at his home to keep alive the memory
of submarines and their crews and their epitaph “overdue and presumed lost.” Unfortunately, he
died before seeing the memorial dedicated.
The “Tolling of the Boats,” is a ceremony honoring the memory of the submariners who lost
their lives in the line of duty, especially those during World War II. In the ceremony, the names
of every U.S. submarine lost, along with the fate of its crew, are read aloud as a ship’s bell is
tolled for each in turn.
From Burnsville, drive north on Highway 197 and travel almost three miles to a sign for “Moonshine Mountain Estates,” turn left and travel up the winding Moonshine Mountain Road for about one mile until reaching the memorial. The address is 891 Moonshine Mountain Road.
The memorial sets in a nicely landscaped area in a mountain subdivision at a cutback in the road.
The annual convention of North Carolina submarine veterans, which includes a ceremony at the memorial, is held annual in Burnsville, NC.
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