Prince George’s County, Maryland, has unveiled a new Pearl Harbor Memorial honoring those who were lost. The memorial, designed and created by a local high school student, replaces the aging monument that previously stood at the site.
Memorial Grove Park in Prince George’s County marked this Memorial Day with a meaningful new addition. Sixteen-year-old Ethan Mendoza of Bladensburg unveiled a new Pearl Harbor memorial, designed and built as part of his Eagle Scout project. His goal was to replace the deteriorating wooden marker that had long stood at the site.
The new memorial pays tribute to the 2,403 Americans who lost their lives in the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor—an event that propelled the United States into World War II over 83 years ago. At the heart of the tribute is a striking anchor, symbolizing the seven U.S. naval ships sunk during the assault.
The dedication ceremony drew a crowd of veterans and community members who gathered among the park’s existing tributes, including the World War I Peace Cross and memorials honoring the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
Mendoza was inspired to undertake the project after visiting the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii at age eight. Now, as an Eagle Scout, he turned that early inspiration into a lasting tribute, ensuring that the memory of Pearl Harbor lives on in his hometown.
Veterans in attendance were visibly moved by Mendoza’s commitment to honoring history and preserving it for future generations.
I suppose the most important thing about history is that we learn from it. So that we don’t repeat mistakes or tragedies that happened in the past, and that we remember those who made sacrifices and tough choices. We can learn from them, we can remember them, and we can celebrate the lives they had. – Ethan Mendoza, Interview from WUSA9.
For more information on Ethan Mendoza and his Eagle Scout project or the memorial itself visit WUSA9.
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