Mayor D'Arcy Gives Speech At New World War ll Submarine Memorial

JOLIET, IL — More than 100 people attended Wednesday morning's special Flag Day ceremony at 30 North Bluff St. as a group of U.S. submarine veterans from the Northeastern Chicago area, USS Chicago Base, dedicated a new memorial to remember the 28 World War II submarines that traveled through Joliet on their way to fight in the Pacific.

Joliet's new submarine monument is at the Veterans Memorial, on the south side of Bicentennial Park.

The ceremony featured remarks from John Connon, commander of the USS Chicago Base, and a speech from new Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy.

"On behalf of the entire City of Joliet, I am honored and pleased our city could offer the United States Submarine Veterans Chicago Base such a wonderful location for this historic monument," D'Arcy told the audience gathered on the west side of the Jefferson Street Bridge.

"This monument serves as a reminder of Joliet’s role in history and how our infrastructure and this river played an important role in the nation’s effort to protect America at sea during World War II," D'Arcy noted. "Dedications and monuments such as this serve as a reminder of those who served our country and lost their lives in the war."

D'Arcy went on to say, "The addition of this moment to our existing Veterans Memorial in Joliet will continue to honor and show our appreciation for our military personnel and veterans. On behalf of the residents and administration here in the City of Joliet, thank you again to the USS Chicago Base for honoring Joliet with this monument and for your efforts to preserve the memory of WWII and those who served.

"We are very proud to partner with you to commemorate such an important part of our nation’s naval history."

State Rep. Larry Walsh Jr. also addressed the crowd. The Joliet area's state elected officials including Sen. Rachel Ventura, Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel and State Rep. Natalie Manley attended, as did former Joliet city manager Jim Capparelli, newly appointed interim city manager Rod Tonelli and Crest Hill Mayor Ray Soliman.

According to United States Submarine Veterans Chicago Base:

Manitowoc Ship Building Company was hired to build 28 Gato/Balao Class submarines for the U.S. Navy during WWII. These submarines sailed through the Chicago River and the Sanitary & Ship Canal to Lockport, where they were placed on specialty-built floating dry docks.

The dry docks then moved through the locks, through Joliet, onwards to the Mississippi River and then down to New Orleans, Louisiana. They traveled across the Gulf of Mexico through the Panama Canal to the Pacific theater of WWII.

Four of the Manitowoc Submarines, the USS Golet SS-361, USS Kete SS-369, USS Lagarto SS-371, and USS Robalo SS273, were lost in combat during the war, with the loss of more than 300 officers and men.

These four submarines brought the total number of submarines lost in World War II, to 52.

Upcoming Event: As a follow-up to Wednesday's dedication ceremony, the Joliet Area Historical Museum will host a program on World War II Submarines and the Manitowoc Submarine Expedition at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 21 for its June “History Happy Hour” event.

This event is free and open to the public. The program will occur in the Joliet Museum auditorium at 204 N. Ottawa Street in downtown Joliet.