On September 10, 2021, a group of dedicated community members, veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and corporate leaders gathered for the unveiling of the Cleveland Lone Sailor at its temporary home in Great Lakes Science Center. The statue pays tribute to the men and women who have served, are currently serving, or will serve in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Merchant Marine—and raises awareness of the future Navy ship, USS Cleveland (LCS 31), currently under construction in Marinette, Wisconsin and scheduled to be commissioned in Cleveland in 2025.
The statue was designed by sculptor Stanley Bleifeld, who enlisted in the Navy during World War II. The original Lone Sailor statue arrived on station at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. on October 13, 1987. Today, there are 17 replicas around the world, with Cleveland being the location of the 18th Lone Sailor now awaiting to welcome the future USS Cleveland to the shores of Lake Erie.
In its permanent new home, the Cleveland Lone Sailor Monument provides a meaningful location for special ceremonies, including enlistments, commissionings, advancements, promotions, retirements and memorial services. It draws Clevelanders and out-of-town visitors alike to the lakefront and reflects the USS Cleveland Legacy Foundation’s vision “to support positive civil-military relations by creating and maintaining a strong, meaningful and direct bond between citizens of northeast Ohio and the crew of USS Cleveland (LCS 31).”
In addition to the iconic statue, the Monument includes an Honor and Memorial Wall featuring personalized plaques with the names of men and women who have served the Nation in America’s Sea Services. The Monument incorporates granite stones retained from the Cuyahoga County Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument prior to its 2009 restoration, offering a historical link to Clevelanders’ distinguished service to the Union in the Civil War.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication of the Cleveland Lone Sailor Monument took place at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 12, at Voinovich Bicentennial Park, at the northwest end of the East Ninth Street Pier in Cleveland. We are grateful for the community that turned out to join us.
For more information, please contact Matt Previts, at (216) 789-2139 or at mprevits@usscleveland.org.