Corporate Branding & Events

Chicago's Riverwalk

Chicago’s popular Riverwalk along the Chicago River has a new addition: The new World War II Submarine Veterans Memorial.

This new monument pays tribute to a little-known piece of World War II history: 28 submarines were built in Manitowoc, Wisconsin that traveled down Lake Michigan, through the Chicago River, down the Mississippi River to New Orleans for ultimate service in the Pacific Ocean theater.

Two submarine veterans groups—Crash Dive Base and USS Chicago Base—raised the funds to construct the memorial, which was designed by Frank Voznak III of nearby Evanston. His father, Frank Voznak Jr., is a submarine veteran.

This project was personal to Chicago Scenic’s job lead, Scott Roisum, who served in the Army as a helicopter mechanic. He worked closely with the Voznaks to refurbish a watertight door from the USS Trout submarine built in the 1950s and decommissioned in 1978. Roisum also fabricated two custom benches from similar materials used on submarines including teakwood, a favored choice of submarine decks.

Chicago’s popular Riverwalk along the Chicago River has a new addition: The new World War II Submarine Veterans Memorial.

This new monument pays tribute to a little-known piece of World War II history: 28 submarines were built in Manitowoc, Wisconsin that traveled down Lake Michigan, through the Chicago River, down the Mississippi River to New Orleans for ultimate service in the Pacific Ocean theater.

Two submarine veterans groups—Crash Dive Base and USS Chicago Base—raised the funds to construct the memorial, which was designed by Frank Voznak III of nearby Evanston. His father, Frank Voznak Jr., is a submarine veteran.

This project was personal to Chicago Scenic’s job lead, Scott Roisum, who served in the Army as a helicopter mechanic. He worked closely with the Voznaks to refurbish a watertight door from the USS Trout submarine built in the 1950s and decommissioned in 1978. Roisum also fabricated two custom benches from similar materials used on submarines including teakwood, a favored choice of submarine decks.

05.2019 back to Corporate Branding & Events