PHILADELPHIA, PA — A permanent monument honoring generations of U.S. Marines who trained and served at the Philadelphia Navy Yard was unveiled Friday, Nov. 6, preserving a chapter of the former naval installation’s military history as the property continues its transformation into a commercial and residential district.
The Marine Corps Monument: Semper Fidelis stands on the historic Marine Parade Grounds between Buildings 100 and 101, facing the fields where Marines trained before departing Philadelphia for military assignments around the world.
The dedication brought together military veterans, elected officials, community leaders, project partners and scholarship recipients ahead of the Marine Corps’ 251st birthday on Nov. 10.
The project was led by Friends of the Philadelphia Navy Yard Marines, working with PIDC, the Four Chaplains Foundation, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98, the City of Philadelphia and community supporters.
PIDC, which serves as the Navy Yard’s master developer and operator, supported the effort to preserve the installation’s Marine Corps history amid ongoing redevelopment.
“As the Navy Yard continues to grow and welcomes new businesses, residents, and visitors, it is important that we preserve the history that came before,” said Kate McNamara, PIDC’s executive vice president of the Navy Yard.
The monument was designed by sculptor Andrew Chernak of Andrew Chernak Sculptures and features the Marine Corps motto, “Semper Fidelis,” meaning “Always Faithful,” on all four sides.
Four relief panels document significant episodes in the Navy Yard’s Marine Corps history, including the role of Building 100, the receiving ship Richmond and the early development of Marine aviation.
Another panel commemorates Marines who departed Philadelphia for France in 1918 to participate in the Battle of Belleau Wood during World War I.
The monument’s development traces to an effort initiated by Dan Harrell, a Marine Corps Reserve veteran who enlisted at the Navy Yard in 1964 and later co-founded Friends of the Philadelphia Navy Yard Marines.
During a family visit in 2018, Harrell’s late wife, Regina, observed that visitors unfamiliar with the installation’s military history might not realize Marines had once trained there.
Her observation prompted Harrell to pursue a permanent memorial recognizing the Marine Corps’ presence at the Navy Yard.
“This monument is about making sure the Marines who trained and served at the Navy Yard are never forgotten,” Harrell stated.
“To see this monument completed, in the place where I enlisted and where so many Marines trained before serving around the world, is deeply meaningful.”
IBEW Local 98 participated in the project, contributing to the construction effort alongside the other organizational partners.
Mark Lynch Jr., the union’s business manager, emphasized the significance of preserving the installation’s military history through a permanent structure.
“There is a special meaning in helping build a monument that honors the Marines who trained and served right here at the Navy Yard,” Lynch stated.
The dedication also recognized a scholarship program administered by Friends of the Philadelphia Navy Yard Marines, which provides educational support to students while maintaining the organization’s connection to military service and community engagement.
Scholarship recipients attended the ceremony as part of the organization’s broader effort to connect the Navy Yard’s military history with future generations.
Following the unveiling, participants gathered at the Second Street Irish Society for a Beef and Brew reception that included a traditional Marine Corps birthday cake-cutting ceremony.
The monument now provides a permanent historical marker at the Navy Yard, recognizing the Marines who served at the installation while preserving their connection to a property undergoing continued redevelopment.
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