Naval ship memorial planned for Tingley Beach

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The city is planning a memorial to honor its namesake naval ship.

The sail of the U.S.S. Albuquerque will eventually be on display at Tingley Beach. The nuclear submarine was decommissioned in 2017 after more than two decades in service.

“It’s fitting that Albuquerque will be the final harbor for this historic sub, with a memorial honoring this vessel and the crews who sailed in its 34 years of service,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “This project has been years in the making and is a testament to this city’s commitment to honoring our veterans and preserving our history for future generations.”

The ship sat in a Washington shipyard for years before it was moved to Kirtland Air Force Base, then to a local steel company to rebuild it.

The unveiling of the plans comes as the city marks Navy Week, highlighting its role in national security and the sailors who served.

“As the 47th state, landlocked with no navigable water path to the ocean, it is pretty cool that New Mexico has such a robust representation with US Naval history, almost thirty naval ships, boats, and tugs have linkage to our state,” said Historian and Navy League of the US New Mexico Council Member Greg Trapp. “It is appropriate for the City of Albuquerque to showcase New Mexico’s continued devotion to the US Navy by creating the USS Albuquerque Memorial, with the USS Albuquerque sail as the centerpiece.”

The city plans to get feedback from residents on the plans in the coming weeks.

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