USS Lexington Memorial
Most visitors come to Lexington to remember the events of April 19, 1775, when the American Revolution began on the town’s Green. Tucked quietly nearby is another memorial that tells a different story, one that extends far beyond Massachusetts and across the world’s oceans.
This memorial honors the United States Navy ships that have carried the name Lexington, connecting the birthplace of American liberty with generations of sailors who served under that historic name. Since the American Revolution, several naval vessels have proudly borne the name USS Lexington, ensuring that the legacy of Lexington has traveled far beyond the town where it began.
The first USS Lexington was a brig captured from the British during the Revolutionary War. Since then, the name has appeared on a succession of American warships, including one of the most famous aircraft carriers in U.S. naval history.
Perhaps the best known was USS Lexington, commissioned in 1927. One of America’s first fleet aircraft carriers, she played a crucial role during the opening months of World War II. In May 1942, she fought in the historic Battle of the Coral Sea. This was the first naval battle in history in which opposing fleets never saw one another, with aircraft carrying out the fighting. Although the Lexington was mortally damaged and scuttled after the battle, her sacrifice helped halt the Japanese advance toward Australia and marked a turning point in the Pacific War.
Her successor, USS Lexington, earned an extraordinary combat record during World War II, receiving eleven battle stars and becoming one of the most decorated aircraft carriers in American history. Nicknamed “The Blue Ghost”, she survived repeated attacks and served throughout the Pacific campaign before later becoming a training carrier for thousands of naval aviators. Today she is preserved as a museum ship in Corpus Christi, Texas.
This memorial reminds us that history is not confined to one place. The name Lexington belongs not only to a town but also to generations of Americans who carried its legacy across the oceans in service to their country.
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