Waves and Gulls: A memorial to the sailors of the Navy and Merchant Marine

Located in the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Lady Bird Johnson Park on Columbia Island in Washington, D.C, the Navy – Merchant Marine Memorial honors sailors of the United States Navy, Coast Guard, the United States Merchant Marine, and the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps who died at sea during World War I and other times. Cast from aluminum with a base of green granite from New Hampshire, the monument is nicknamed 'Waves and Gulls' and depicts seven seagulls above the crest of a wave.

The memorial's inscription was written by Royal Cortissoz and reads: 'To the strong souls and ready valor of those men of the United States who in the Navy, the Merchant Marine, and other paths of Activity upon the waters of the world have given life or still offer it in the performance of heroic deeds this monument is dedicated by a grateful people.'

The monument was the result of efforts by the Navy and Marine Memorial Association, which was formed following World War I. The association worked with the Commission of Fine Arts to refine the design, which was eventually reduced in size by 25% from the original 30-foot high proposal. The final monument was dedicated on May 30, 1935, and is currently landscaped with red tulips in the spring and red cannas in the fall.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons