The George R. Laderbush Memorial Bridge honors Portsmouth resident, George Robert Laderbush, Torpedoman’s Mate, 2nd Class (USN) who was lost with 69 other members of the crew aboard the USS Flier (SS-250) which sank on August 12th 1944, after striking a Japanese mine. The bridge was originally dedicated to him when it was built in 1949 and the original bronze plaque, now refurbished, will be unveiled at the event. Mayor Jack Blalock will read a Proclamation of the re-dedication of the bridge, recognizing the supreme sacrifice of Torperdoman Laderbush, his crewmates and all of the sailors who have called Portsmouth their homeport. 

 

The USS Flier was one of 52 United States Navy submarines lost in the Pacific Theater during World War II, and George Robert Laderbush was one of 374 officers and 3,131 crew lost on those submarines. 

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The idea for the 911 Memorial at City Hall came from Portsmouth’s First Responders in 2010 during the annual remembrance. State Rep Jacqueline Cali-Pitts suggested it would be nice to have a permanent memorial and the Police Department, with the assistance of Sen. Kelly Ayotte’s office began inquiries about the dwindling number of World Trade Center artifacts being distributed around the country by application to the NY Port Authority Police. One of the requirements for obtaining the 8-foot steel I-beam that weighs 1,100 pounds was transporting it from New York City to its destination. Jim Teetzel who had helped create the Memorial Park anchoring Memorial Bridge supplied the architectural design and resources. Hollie Noveletski and Josh Rosenthal of Novel Iron Works supplied the 40-foot flatbed and driver, Mark Dearborn and Woody Husted of Infinite Imaging supplied the banners for the transport and Colwen Hotels helped provide discounted lodging for the escort group. The Portsmouth Police Department led a five-vehicle police motorcade. As the convoy crossed each state line, the respective State Police provided an escort until the entourage crossed into NH where NH State Police, Portsmouth Police, the Patriot Guard, Combat Vets and other fire and police took up the motorcade. Portsmouth Fire Department ladder trucks displaying American flags and groups of citizens saluted from the overpasses on I-95 on the route into Portsmouth. The motorcade traveled through Market Square before coming to a stop at City Hall. On September 11, 2015, 911  Steel Artifact G-0036 was unveiled in its permanent plaza installation at City Hall, overlooking South Mill Pond, North Church steeple and downtown Portsmouth, beyond.

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Brigadier General Fitz John Porter, born on August 31, 1822, sits astride his horse in Haven Park, opposite the house he was born in, the son of a hero of the War of 1812 and commander of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Portsmouth’s only equestrian statue was placed by Porter’s wife in 1906 to honor posthumously a man whose service record in the Civil War had been marred by a court martial. Porter commanded the Army of the Potomac’s 5th Corps under McClellan (his mentor) and Pope (destroyer of his career). Political intrigues shredded his illustrious career as he fought a court-martial resulting from his reluctance to follow Pope’s orders to make what to Porter looked like a suicidal attack during the Second Battle of Bull Run (August 29-30, 1862). He was finally exonerated 25 years later.

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The 129 men lost aboard USS Thresher are remembered among their fellow submariners in the Memorial Garden at USS Albacore Park (above). Read more about the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of Portsmouth who made history, and added another strand to the Portsmouth genome by being willing to take up the fight.

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December 7, 1941, “the day that will live in infamy” heralded the dramatic expansion of work at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, with a civilian force of 25,000 eventually turning out 70 submarines to counter the attacks of Axis forces at Pearl Harbor and elsewhere.

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December 11-14, 1862 saw a number of New Hampshire companies in battle at Fredericksburg VA where many of their men fell.

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And December 14, 1774 saw the attack of Portsmouth patriots led by John Langdon, later New Hampshire’s first Governor, (and his house preserved by Historic New England)  on the small British garrison guarding the gunpowder at Fort William and Mary in New Castle.

 

 

Portsmouth is a Navy Town, with the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard tracing its history since 1800 as a United States Navy Yard, "from sails to atoms."

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There are many monuments recognizing the Navy connection, including:

City Historic Marker, Navy Yard

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But Portsmouth is also a town of soldiers and airmen, having committed soldiers, sailors and airmen to every campaign in support of the nation, including the colonial wars and the American Revolution.

 

Monuments to their memories include:

Soldiers & Sailors Monument in Goodwin Park (pictured)

City Historic Marker: Memorial statue of Gen. Fitz John Porter

City Historic Marker: Memorial Bridge from Portsmouth to Kittery.

Portsmouth Memorial Park adjacent to the Bridge

Pease International Tradeport, formerly Pease Air Base, named in 1957 in honor of Harl Pease