Submarines and the sailors aboard operate in water depths where man was never intended to go. The hulls must withstand intense pressure. One bad weld of the thousands it takes to produce a sub can result in tragedy.
Much of the impetus for this monument came from a desire to memorialize and honor the work of the tradesmen and tradeswomen who labor in the heat of summer and the cold of winter in what locals call “the yard” along the Thames River.
These skilled workers must meet stringent standards while operating in conditions far more challenging than their colleagues in other industries.
Welding arcs are heated to thousands of degrees, grinders operate in a world of metal shards and dust, painters cram themselves into ballast tanks and tiny areas no one will ever see again, and electricians run miles of cable through tight, congested spaces. Carpenters and sheet metal fabricators ply their trades in these same challenging conditions.
Every task they perform carries with it the responsibility to protect the lives of the men and women who serve aboard, patrolling the depths of the world’s oceans on their missions to ensure our safety.
