‘Lone Sailor’ statue unveiled at Quincy’s new Navy Park at Squantum

Retired Rear Admiral Stephen T. Keith spoke during the dedication of the Navy Park at Squantum, built on parts of the former naval air station and at a plant that built destroyers in World War II. The park, dedicated to the city's Navy vets, includes the "Lone Sailor" statue, the 19th casting of the statue erected in memorials around the world.JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE/Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe

(via The Boston Globe) QUINCY — Through fog and rain on Friday morning, a 7-foot statue of a sailor faced a crowd filled with veterans of the US Navy and other military branches who sacrificed their personal freedoms in service of the nation.

One by one, as their branch was called, they stood from their seats to be recognized for their service, receiving much applause from dozens gathered under a tent.

But it was the unveiling of the “Lone Sailor” statue that was the star attraction at the morning ceremony dedicating the Navy Park at Squantum, which honors veterans’ service and the city’s unique place is naval history.

“This is a reminder that we stand on the shoulders of generations of people that serve,” Mayor Thomas Koch said in remarks.

The “Lone Sailor” will stand as the centerpiece of the park built on the land where destroyers were built and pilots trained for World War II at a former naval air station.

The bronze statue depicts a seaman, about 25 years old, standing watch. His hands are tucked into a peacoat and a duffel bag is packed beside him. The Quincy statue, part of a US Navy program, is the 19th erected in the world, with others located in Washington, D.C., at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, and in Normandy, France, according to the Navy.

Elsewhere in New England, the “Lone Sailor” was erected in Burlington, Vt., and West Haven, Conn., according to the Navy.

At Friday’s dedication, six admirals and other Quincy residents were honored, including 100-year-old Millie Cox, a WWII Marine veteran, and 101-year-old Francis X. Bellotti, a Navy lieutenant and former Democratic state attorney general.

Millie Cox, a 100-year-old Quincy resident who was one of the first women to join the Marines, and Navy Corpsman 1st Class Remi Stanley chatted after Cox was honored at the dedication of the new Navy Park at Squantum.JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE/Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe

Cox, a Quincy native who was the first woman to serve as a clerk for the Quincy Veteran Services offices, spoke at the ceremony and said it the “highlight of her very long life.”

When someone asked if she would serve again Cox said, “Yes, yes, in a heartbeat.”

She is one of 12 Navy veterans honored with bronze plaques also erected at the park.

Bronze plaques honor 12 notable Quincy veterans, including 100-year-old Millie Cox, center, a Quincy one of the first women to join the marines, and Francis X. Bellotti, right, both of whom attended the dedication of the new Navy Park at Squantum Friday. JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE/Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe

The ceremony was framed by opening and closing prayers. People stood with hands on their hearts for the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem echoed proudly through the crowd as a Navy honor guard presented the colors.

At the end of ceremony, a bell was rung from the third USS Quincy, a ship built at the Fore River Shipyard following the deaths of 370 sailors in the Battle of Savo Island on Aug. 9, 1942.

Retired Marine General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., who served as master of ceremonies, said he hopes people will follow in the footsteps of veterans.

“I think it represents the values that Quincy holds dear: commitment, service, and being a part of something bigger than yourself,” Dunford said in an interview.

Koch said he hopes the statue inspires others to serve.

“It’s a very visible park that shows the city’s gratitude to those who chose to serve in the Navy service,” he said. “I hope over time these stories will inspire others to perhaps think about military service.”

State, federal, and Navy officials spoke during the ceremony, including retired Rear Admiral Stephen T. Keith.

Keith said the contributions veterans have provided to this country are forever memorialized in the statue.

“The ‘Lone Sailor’ represents everything that each figure has talked about, but for me it’s a vessel of people I know that have done things in the Navy,” he said.

Representative Stephen Lynch spoke of the service of sailors classified as unrecoverable or buried at sea, saying their memories will now live on.

“Today that changes,” he said.

Several veterans in Quincy said they were honored to be recognized for their service.

Tom Orlando, 75, who served from 1970 to 1976, said service was “the best six years of my life” and he hopes people will continue to visit the statue.

“It was sort of lacking recognizing naval sailors in Quincy, which was so instrumental in both wars and naval history,” he said.

George Bouchard, 63, who served from 1982 to 1986, said the high turnout of veterans in the community showed their appreciation for the statue, including his own.

“I’ve always wanted to see it,” he said.

Carl Miller, 76, who served from 1967 to 1971, said he was satisfied with the way the city has honored its veterans. He hopes younger generations are inspired to enlist.

“I wish more kids these days would go into the military,” he said.

Vice Admiral Colin J. Kilrain pins his navy SEAL pin on Francis X. Bellotti, who served as a "Naval Frogman," a precursor to the SEALS, during WWII and later as Lt. Gov., during the dedication of the new Navy Park at Squantum Friday. JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE/Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe