Tolling for the Boats Ceremony - 2026-May-23

Event is rain or shine. If the weather does not cooperate, it will be moved inside the hangar building across from the museum near the Liberty Hound.

What is the Tolling for the Boats Ceremony?

The U.S. Submarine Veterans of WWII originally established the “Tolling for the Boats” Ceremony. It is a unique and time-honored memorial service and is in keeping with the finest traditions of the Navy. In the ceremony, the names of each of the U.S. submarines lost, along with the fate of its crew, are read aloud as a ship’s bell is tolled for each in turn. The tolling of the bell reminds us of the debt of gratitude we owe to both our departed shipmates and to those in active service, who guard our country, while serving silently under the sea.

The USSVI Buffalo Base Sub Vets will host their Tolling for the Boats Ceremony on Saturday, May 23rd at 2:00pm near the USS Croaker (in between the Vietnam Memorial and the Iraq/Afghanistan Memorial)