New USS Phoenix submarine monument is coming to Steele Indian School Park

A Cold War-era submarine will soon have a new home at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix. A groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday centered on a monument for the vessel.

The USS Phoenix was part of a class of submarines designed to counter a Soviet Union fleet. It was operated in the Cold War era, which ended around the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

After being decommissioned in 1998, efforts are underway to bring parts of the Navy attack submarine to Phoenix.

Councilwoman Laura Pastor has supported the monument and says the project is an opportunity to preserve and teach history.

“I'm just very proud that we're able to get here. Many of the Cold War veterans have served without ever being recognized, and this is one way of recognizing them," she said.

Pete Lumianski is a retired U.S. Navy captain and worked to bring the project to fruition.

“We seem to be constantly in a state of tension with other parts of the world. And we can certainly draw lessons learned from the Cold War, which includes Vietnam, Korea and the Gulf Wars," he said.

Former Arizona Attorney General and Phoenix Mayor Terry Goddard helped spearhead the effort when he created the USS Phoenix Commission in 1989.

The monument will include the salvaged pieces of the original submarine, which have been in storage. The project is still raising funds to cover maintenance requirements.