Commems Collection Medals: 1963 East Coast Memorial

The East Coast Memorial, a memorial dedicated to US World War II servicemen and merchant marines who lost their life in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean during the war. It is located in Battery Park, New York City, and was dedicated on May 23, 1963.

The Memorial consists of a plaza with eight 19-foot tall gray granite pylons and a bronze eagle sculpture on a black granite pedestal total height: 18' 6". The pylons are inscribed with the names, rank, organization and state of each of the deceased 4,601 servicemen who went missing. Though not listed on the pylons, the Memorial does reference the merchant sailors it honors on the Eagle's pedestal.

East Coast Memorial - Plaza with Eagle Sculpture

(Image Credit: American Battle Monuments Commission. Public Domain)

On the front of the pedestal is found:

"1941 **** 1945 / ERECTED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / IN PROUD AND GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE / OF HER SONS / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN HER SERVICE/ AND WHO SLEEP IN THE AMERICAN COASTAL WATER / OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN / INTO THY HANDS, OH LORD"

On the back of the pedestal is seen:

"1941 *** 1945 / IN ADDITION TO THE 4,597 AMERICAN SERVICEMEN HONORED HERE / WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN HER SERVICE AND / WHO SLEEP IN THE AMERICAN COASTAL WATERS OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN / THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / HONORS THE 6,185 SEAMEN OF THE UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE / AND THE 529 SEAMEN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY TRANSPORT SERVICE / WHO LOST THEIR LIVES DURING WORLD WAR II."

Note: The count of lost US servicemen listed on the pylons and the number identified on the Eagle's pedestal are not perfectly in sync, but the small margin of difference (4,601 vs. 4,597) is likely due to both being worked on at the same time and the final list inscribed on the pylons being updated after the figures was selected for the pedestal.

The design of the Memorial's plaza and granite pylons is credited to the NYC architectural firm of Gehron and Seltzer. The Eagle was sculpted by Albino Manca (b. December 31, 1897; Italy - d. January 15, 1976; New York City) and cast by the Bedi-Rassy Art Foundry of Brooklyn, New York.

Manca was also the designer of the medal presented here. Descriptions of the medal's obverse and reverse can be found within the leaflet below. (No need to repeat it!) The leaflet also references how the East Coast Memorial medal was to be the first of a series by Manca - it does not appear such a series came to fruition.

The bronze medal is 64 millimeters in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company (MACO) of New York City; it was marketed/distributed by Contemporary Commemorative Medals of New York City.

To my eyes, Manca's design exudes strength and power - it definitely is fitting for a Memorial to those who gave their life in defense of their country. I've enjoyed having the medal in my collection for years.

1963 East Coast Memorial - Bronze Medal


1963 East Coast Memorial Medal - Leaflet




For more of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, see: Commems Collection.