American Merchant Marine Memorial

(1998) The American Merchant Marine Memorial in Veterans' Memorial Garden, Lincoln Nebraska was erected by the Missouri Valley Mariners Chapter. The Memorial was dedicated June 5, 1993.

Some of the earliest mariners were Christopher Columbus, Leif Erickson, Robert Fulton, Mr. Cunard and all others who worked on the sailing ships of the high seas, the steam and paddle wheelers of the inland waterways, the barges, the tug boats, the freighters, and the luxury liners. The flag of the Merchant Marine bears the slogan, "In War and Peace". In war, Mariners are the "fourth arm of defense" or the sixth branch of service.

Since V-J Day, the USSR has awarded gold medals to US Mariners who took war and food supplies to Russia via the Port of Murmansk, Russia. This Port had to be reached by going through the North Sea where the seas ran "high and rough" and the danger of being torpedoed was great. At no other time in history were the US Mariners called upon for more hazardous duty than before, during, and after World War II. ONe in every thirty-two gave their lives for their country, the highest death rate of any branch of service.