A wreath-laying ceremony will be hosted by the U.S. Navy on Tuesday to honor the sinking of the USS Eagle 56, a Navy patrol vessel that was torpedoed by a German submarine during World War II. The sinking occurred off the coast of Cape Elizabeth on April 23, 1945, resulting in the loss of 49 sailors while 13 were rescued. The ceremony is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. at Fort Williams Park, at the plaque memorializing the USS Eagle on the south side of the Portland Head Light driveway, as per a Cape Elizabeth town news release.

This tragic event took place towards the end of World War II, with the Germans surrendering just two weeks later on May 7, 1945. Japan followed suit on September 2, 1945, officially bringing an end to the war. The wreath-laying ceremony serves as a tribute to the brave sailors who lost their lives and a reminder of the sacrifices made during this significant period in history.