History Behind the USS Cole Memorial

24 September 2020

From Naval Station Norfolk Public Affairs Office

A Sailor visits the Cole Memorial on the 18th anniversary of the attack on the ship.

Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile-destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67) render honors at the USS Cole Memorial at Naval Station Norfolk during a commemoration of the Oct. 12, 2000 terrorist attack in Yemen that killed 17 Sailors.

Exactly one year after and with a promise to never forget, the U.S. Navy dedicated the USS Cole monument to honor and remember the 17 Sailors killed in the tragic bombing that took place to the Norfolk-based destroyer in Yemen on Oct. 12, 2000.

During the dedication at Naval Station (NS) Norfolk in 2001, more than 1,000 crew members and relatives gathered at the memorial that overlooks Willoughby Bay where ships leaving and returning to NS Norfolk pass by.

The memorial consists of three sections. The main plaza of the memorial contains three 10-foot monoliths that represent the three colors of the American flag. Encircling the monoliths are 17 low level markers that represent the victims of the bombing. Three plaques are placed are the monument. The two outside pillars contain the names of the Sailors killed during the bombing and the center pillar contains the USS Cole emblem and an inscription that reads “In lasting tribute to their Honor, Courage and Commitment.”

Along the path to the memorial are 28 pine trees that represent the 17 victims and the 11 children who lost their parent during the bombing. Also along the path is a plaque that marks the location of the USS Cole Memorial Tree that was planted by the Hampton Roads Council of the Navy League during the dedication ceremony. The plaque reads “You will forever be in our thoughts, our memories never forgotten, you will live in our hearts, and may this tree remind every ship rolling by, of your sacrifice.” At the end of the path is a raised plaque that details the events of the bombing and amplifies the heroic efforts to save ship and their shipmates. Part of the inscriptions reads “As a permanent symbol of that strength and resolve, steel from the ships damaged hull is forged into this plaque. The crew of the USS Cole personified honor, courage and commitment.”

"The USS Cole Memorial is a beautiful tribute to the honor, courage and commitment displayed by the determined warriors on Oct. 12, 2000,” said Cmdr. Edward Pledger, commanding officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67). “Every time we sail past the memorial when departing and returning to Norfolk, we pay our respects to the Cole heroes by rendering honors to the memorial.”

The monument was designed by John Blackburn, a landscape architect with the Navy's worldwide engineering corps. Blackburn took input from USS Cole crew members while developing his design. Donations through the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society paid for the $143,000 project.

As we approach the 20th anniversary of the USS Cole bombing, the memorial stands as a solemn reminder of the 17 Sailors who lost their lives, those injured and the all those impacted by the events of that tragic day.

Google Translation Disclaimer

Google Translate, a third party service provided by Google, performs all translations directly and dynamically.
Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, cnrma.cnic.navy.mil has no control over the features, functions, or performance of the Google Translate service.
The automated translations should not be considered exact and should be used only as an approximation of the original English language content.
This service is meant solely for the assistance of limited English-speaking users of the website.
Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, cnrma.cnic.navy.mil does not warrant the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information translated.
Some items cannot be translated, including but not limited to image buttons, drop down menus, graphics, photos, or portable document formats (pdfs).
Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, cnrma.cnic.navy.mil does not directly endorse Google Translate or imply that it is the only language translation solution available to users.
All site visitors may choose to use similar tools for their translation needs. Any individuals or parties that use Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, cnrma.cnic.navy.mil content in translated form, whether by Google Translate or by any other translation services, do so at their own risk.
IE users: Please note that Google Translate may not render correctly when using Internet Explorer. Users are advised to use MS Edge, Safari, Chrome, or Firefox browser to take full advantage of the Google Translate feature.
The official text of content on this site is the English version found on this website. If any questions arise related to the accuracy of the information contained in translated text, refer to the English version on this website, it is the official version.