A relic of the USS Arizona was dedicated at City Hall on Dec. 7, 2024 in honor of Simpsonville native Broadus West
Simpsonville, S.C. — Family of Simpsonville native Broadus West, Mayor Paul Shewmaker, City Administrator Dianna Gracely and members of the public gathered in Simpsonville City Hall on the first Saturday in December to dedicate a relic of the USS Arizona in honor of West. The dedication was also in observance of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. West was among the 2,400 military servicemen who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country when Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese on Dec. 7, 1941.
One of the sunken battleships in the attack on Pearl Harbor was the USS Arizona, on which West was aboard. The attainment of the USS Arizona relic by the City of Simpsonville was a collective effort among amateur historian Michael Hiott, Mayor Shewmaker and Administrator Gracely.
The dedication of the relic took place in City Hall on the second floor of the building on the farthest western side of the new Simpsonville Municipal Complex. Members of the public are welcome to view the relic during normal business hours. The relic is inside a protective case on a stand.
