Saturday, May 24, 2025
Common Burying Ground | Farewell Street, Newport
Ceremony Starts at 1pm
No Reservations Needed | Free Event
The Newport Historical Society, in collaboration with the U.S. Lighthouse Society, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, will honor the trailblazing heroism of Idawalley (Ida) Zoradia Lewis at a graveside ceremony on Saturday, May 24. Lewis (1842-1911) served as the lighthouse keeper at Light Station Lime Rock in Newport Harbor for over 50 years and is the namesake of the USCGC Ida Lewis and Lewis Drive in Arlington National Cemetery.
The commemoration will feature the placement of a bronze U.S. Lighthouse Service grave marker by the crew of the USCGC Ida Lewis. The U.S. Lighthouse Service, originating in 1789, was incorporated into the Coast Guard in 1939.
Named in Lewis’ honor, the USCGC Ida Lewis, a 175 ft. Keeper-class buoy is the lead ship in her class. The cutter maintains 374 aids to navigation from Long Island Sound to Cape Cod. Deployments also include environmental protection, search and rescue, domestic icebreaking, and maritime security. Join us in honoring Ida Lewis, the heroine of Light Station Lime Rock. Free parking is available at the Gateway Center, 23 America’s Cup Avenue, Newport, RI.