One of those truths was that the groom dies to save the bride. Here in Washington, an 18-foot granite statue symbolizes how this message has slipped into obscurity. It shows a robed man rising out of the waves, his arms outstretched like a cross. This Titanic memorial once had a prominent position near the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge. Today it's hidden behind Fort McNair, next to the waters of the Washington Channel.
Few people see it, other than occasional fishermen and joggers.
On a recent afternoon, the back was stained where men had used it as a urinal. A soiled condom marked the spot. If you ask a cabbie to bring you to the Titanic Memorial, they'll drive around for an hour or more. It seems like nobody has a clue where this statue is and what it stands for. Reprinted with permission.