Days after news broke of a beloved local fisherman’s death, the Port of Port Townsend renewed focus on its plans to build a memorial to honor him and all other area residents lost at sea. 

“With Joel Kawahara’s loss here last week, it just kind of brought home to me, and other Port officials like our Port commissioners that Bernie’s vision is super important and there needs to be a driving force to make it happen,” said Port Executive Director Eron Berg, who mentioned the effort in his opening remarks at the Aug. 18 celebration of the Port’s new 300-ton lift.

Bernie Arthur, an 86-year-old retired maritime tradesman, has, for years, envisioned and worked towards creating a mariners' memorial at a shoreline property along Water Street. But, having been met with permitting and cost challenges, the project stalled. 

“Very few of these people who have died at sea have any kind of place for you to go and visit them,” Arthur said. “I am happy that the port is taking charge and I can step back and make helpful suggestions if necessary. I just feel good about having a memorial put in.”  

Berg expects that by the 2026 Wooden Boat Festival, the memorial, albeit different from the design first envisioned by Arthur, will be installed at The Point Hudson Breakwater Walkway. 

“It just feels like something missing that’s needed,” Berg said. “The Port can make this happen.”

Pete Langley of the Port Townsend Foundry is leading the design and installation of the memorial. A lifelong mariner who grew up around boats, Langley understands the deep sense of loss that comes with life at sea. He collaborated with Arthur on the original concept and, together with his team, crafted the outdoor memorial now standing at the Catholic church.

“I’ve been involved with several other mariners' memorials,” he said, mentioning ones in Morro Bay California, and Seward Alaska. “It’s just one of those things I’ve always wanted to happen here.”

Growing up on boats himself, he knows what it’s like to lose someone. He’s been involved with several other mariners' memorials, including ones in Morro Bay, California, and Seward, Alaska. He was involved with Arthur’s efforts years ago and is glad to see it moving forward. 

“Part of this has just been a passion of mine, you know, growing up on the sea,” Langley said. “I know exactly what people go through and what it's like to lose somebody. 

Langley envisions the focal point of the memorial will be an archway made of bronze bull kelp symbolizing the ocean floor at the entrance to the breakwater. While he hasn’t drawn out the whole concept, he has a pretty good idea of what he wants the memorial to look like. 

“If you are approaching that, my vision is to see that you’re slowly coming off the beach and then going underwater,” he said. “Because that’s now where the people reside. Most of the leaves of the bull kelp will be floating as if it’s above you, as if you were underwater, floating.” 

Plaques dedicated to Jefferson County residents who were lost at sea, including Kalahara, and one dedicated to Arthur and his wife Germain Arthur for their support, will be installed, as well as benches, brass sea stars, oysters, and other sea life. 

The exact design is still up in the air, but Langley has several ideas for additions, including a bell at the end of the breakwater for families of those lost at sea to ring and help deal with their grief and loss. The scope of the memorial will largely depend on funding. 

Berg expects the project to cost somewhere between $50,000 and $100,000, with the Port committing at least the first $50,000. 

“Process-wise, we’ll probably go to the port commission in September, early October, with kind of a policy proposal to support this,” he said. “I’m anticipating the project is a $50,000 to $100,000 project.” 

Berg expects the Port will contribute at least $50,000 to the project, and may look to the community for donations.

“It’s an important project, so I would think we are going to look for ways to make it happen regardless,” he said. “But, I believe there are people who want to be part of it.” 

Now, Kiwanis, which was involved with Arthur’s original plan, is doing site clean-up around the breakwater to place a bench as early as next month, Berg wrote. While unsure how involved they will be going forward, he expects that they will help in some capacity.