1993What is the difference between a 'static' and a 'living' memorial?
The United States Aircraft Carrier Memorial, located at San Diego’s historic Old Navy "Fleet Landing" across from the USS Midway, serves as a powerful example of a 'living' memorial. Unlike static memorials that remain unchanged, the Aircraft Carrier Memorial continues to evolve, engraining the names of every U.S. Navy aircraft carrier—currently 165 in total—honoring not only the ships, but all who served aboard them. The memorial was unveiled on February 17, 1993, in front of more than 1,000 veterans and families, and features a striking nine-foot polished black granite obelisk alongside two life-size bronze sculptures. The ongoing addition of carriers—ranging from the USS Langley, commissioned in 1920, to the USS Ronald Reagan in 2003—ensures that this site remains a place of active remembrance and education for generations to come.
