Story

Service, Ships, and Remembrance

Two Navy vessels named Shamokin, the service of local people, wartime honor rolls, murals, monuments, and civic memorials connect the city to military history at sea and at home.

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City Hall flagpole plaque dedicated to Shamokin's fallen heroes of Operation Iraqi FreedomCity Hall flagpole plaque dedicated to Shamokin's fallen heroes of Operation Iraqi FreedomImage date: 2026-06-09

The Name Shamokin at Sea

Naval History and Heritage Command records document two United States Navy vessels named Shamokin. Their separate histories carry the city’s name into different periods of naval service and should not be collapsed into one ship or one continuous service record.

A Local Connection to Pacific Command

The U.S. Pacific Fleet’s official roster documents Herbert G. Hopwood among its previous commanders. His Shamokin connection belongs within a broader story of local service, while exact life details and individual claims remain limited to the facts established by their own cited records.

Honor Rolls Preserved with Care

A wartime Victory Report preserves a joint Gold Star Honor Roll, a dedicated Shamokin Borough Honor Roll, and Coal Township sections for Brady, Coal Run, and Boydtown. The public story describes that memorial structure without republishing unreviewed names or claiming a complete service census.

Image gallery

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**Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Shamokin**Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Monument in ShamokinImage date: 2026-06-10

**The Price of Freedom Veterans Memorial in Shamokin**The Price of Freedom Veterans Memorial in ShamokinImage date: 2026-06-10

**M60A3 tank monument on West Water Street in Shamokin**M60A3 tank monument on West Water Street in ShamokinImage date: 2026-06-10

**Soldiers Circle monument in Shamokin**Soldiers Circle monument in ShamokinImage date unknown

**Second view of Soldiers Circle in Shamokin**Second view of Soldiers Circle in ShamokinImage date unknown

**The Hiker Spanish-American War memorial statue in Shamokin**The Hiker Spanish-American War memorial statue in ShamokinImage date: 2026-06-10

Historic postcard showing the American Legion Building in Shamokin — **Historic postcard of the American Legion Building in Shamokin**Historic postcard view of the American Legion Building in Shamokin.Image date unknown

Official U.S. Navy portrait of Admiral Herbert G. Hopwood in uniform — **Admiral Herbert G. Hopwood**Official U.S. Navy portrait of Admiral Herbert G. Hopwood.Image date unknown

1938 U.S. Navy portrait of Captain Holden C. Richardson in uniform — **Captain Holden C. Richardson in 1938**A 1938 U.S. Navy portrait of Captain Holden C. Richardson.Image date: 1938

Honor the Brave mural honoring military and emergency-service members — **Honor the Brave Mural**A Rescue Fire Company mural honoring military, police, EMS, and firefighting service.Image date unknown

Patriotic Made in the USA mural at Rescue Fire Company — **Made in the USA Mural**A patriotic mural at Rescue Fire Company in Shamokin.Image date unknown