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San Francisco Must Keep Faith with the Abraham Lincoln Brigade
By David Perry
I write this from Spain, in the Andalusian town of Grazalema, where the memories and miasma of the Spanish Civil War — the first front against fascism — still live and linger.
Here, history is not safely confined to museums or reduced to dates in textbooks. It remains present in the landscape, in family memories, in unmarked graves and in the stories of neighbors whose parents and grandparents endured one of the defining struggles of the 20th century.
That is why I was pleased to read Sam Whiting’s excellent account of the ambitious new waterfront park planned for San Francisco’s Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park. The proposed transformation promises something San Francisco badly needs: a welcoming, accessible and beautiful public space at the foot of Market Street, connecting downtown with the Bay.
But something essential was missing from the article and, more troublingly, appears absent from the public conversation surrounding the park’s future: What will become of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Monument?
For years, this extraordinary memorial has been obscured by the hulking Vaillancourt Fountain, marooned in a setting that prevented many residents and visitors from fully seeing, understanding or appreciating it.
Now, as the fountain is removed and the plaza reimagined, San Francisco has an opportunity — and an obligation — to give this monument the prominence it deserves.
The Abraham Lincoln Brigade Monument honors the approximately 2,800 Americans who volunteered to defend the democratically elected Spanish Republic against the forces of General Francisco Franco. They understood, years before the United States entered World War II, that fascism was not merely Spain’s problem. It was a gathering international threat.
Many of them never came home.
These volunteers were not sent by their government. They went because their consciences compelled them. They crossed an ocean to stand beside people they had never met, defending democracy against a military uprising supported by Hitler and Mussolini.
They were among the first Americans to confront European fascism on the battlefield.
San Francisco’s monument, designed by Ann Chamberlain and Walter Hood, is not simply another piece of civic decoration. Through images, maps and the words of the volunteers themselves, it tells a deeply American story about courage, sacrifice and international solidarity. It is the only government-supported monument in the United States dedicated to these Americans and their struggle.
That distinction places a special responsibility upon San Francisco.
The monument must not become an afterthought in the new park. It must not be placed in storage indefinitely, pushed to an inconspicuous corner or quietly eliminated from the final plans. The city must publicly reaffirm its commitment to preserve it, restore it where necessary and return it to a prominent, dignified and accessible location.
Better still, the redesign should allow the memorial finally to fulfill its educational purpose. Thoughtful landscaping, lighting, seating and interpretive signage could create a place where schoolchildren, visitors and residents encounter the history of the Spanish Civil War and understand why Americans volunteered to fight in it.
San Francisco should consult directly with the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives, surviving family members, historians, the Spanish Consulate, the monument’s designers and the broader community as the plans proceed. The monument’s future should be stated explicitly in public presentations, planning documents and funding commitments — not left to assumptions or vague assurances.
San Francisco is a city that has long celebrated those who resisted injustice before resistance became popular. The men and women of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade belong within that tradition.
From Grazalema, I am reminded that forgetting does not happen all at once. It happens gradually: when a name disappears from a plan, when a monument is hidden from view, when a difficult history is displaced by something newer and more convenient.
A renewed Embarcadero park can be a magnificent contribution to San Francisco’s future. But a city cannot build an honest future by obscuring the bravest chapters of its past.
The City of San Francisco made a commitment when it accepted and installed the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Monument. It must now honor that commitment — publicly, unequivocally and permanently.
The volunteers of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade stood against fascism when much of the world looked away.
San Francisco must not look away from them now.
David Perry is a longtime San Francisco public-relations professional, author and lecturer on history and culture. He is currently finishing a novel centered around the Spanish Civil War.
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The new five-acre park is projected to cost about $40 million, with construction beginning in late 2026 and completion anticipated in late 2027 or early 2028. The Abraham Lincoln Brigade Monument was dedicated in 2008 and is recognized as the nation’s only government-supported monument to the Americans who fought fascism in Spain.
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14 June 1944: The historic town of Orvieto, Italy is liberated from the Fascist and Nazi yoke. This moment in time and the concurrent WWII era are central to the plot of David Eugene Perry’s award winning mystery thriller.
Currently in screenplay development and now in its second printing as the best-selling title ever for Pace Press / Quilldriver Books, this “elegant, twisty thriller” (Armistead Maupin) is “giddy with assassins, terrorists, shady priests, human trafficking, and megawatt conspiracies” (Kay Kudukis, Palm Springs Life) with “two detectives as sharp as Sam Spade and with the wit of Nick and Nora Charles” (Will Snyder, Bay Area Reporter). “Upon This Rock is fabulous. I can’t wait for the movie” (Jan Wahl, Emmy Award Winning Hollywood Reporter).
WINNER: Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)
WINNER: San Francisco Book Festival
Get your copy at your favorite independent bookstore or on Amazon — instant ebook for Kindle or print — at the “Upon This Rock” link below:
Hollywood Legend Surfaces: The Original “Titanic Cherub” From James Cameron’s Epic Film Heads To Auction With Other Rare “Titanic” Items
Iconic Hollywood Artifact Indelibly Linked with “Jack & Rose” Romance as Portrayed by Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio
Heritage Auctions • July 13 – 17, 2026
15 June 2026 – Los Angeles, CA: One of the most recognizable and beloved set pieces from James Cameron’s Titanic is heading to auction July 13 – 17 —the original Grand Staircase Cherub, screen-used in multiple scenes of the 1997 blockbuster, including the pivotal moment when Jack and Rose meet in front of the First Class Dining Room, in addition to being seen throughout the film, including the climactic moment when the Atlantic Ocean bursts through the skylight and floods the staircase, and cherub, (see link below) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaWFBoBzmK4&t=33s
The piece arrives at auction just months after another Titanic prop—the floating wall panel on which Jack and Rose famously floated—sold for more than $700,000, signaling a surging appetite among collectors of iconic cinema artifacts. Early estimates suggest the “Titanic Cherub” could be even more valuable to collectors, or museums.
A Screen Icon in Its Own Right: The cherub appears repeatedly throughout Titanic, most notably during Rose DeWitt Bukater’s early descent of the Grand Staircase—a moment that became one of the most reproduced stills in modern cinema. Its image can be spotted in film stills, promotional photography, behind-the-scenes footage, and even theme park recreations. For many fans, it is synonymous with Cameron’s obsessive detail and the grandeur of the ill-fated ocean liner.
“This cherub has been part of my life—and part of SEE’s story—for nearly three decades,” said Martin Biallas, CEO of SEE Global Entertainment. “James Cameron and his team created a masterpiece in every single detail, and this piece embodies that artistry. I’ve been honored to steward it. Now it’s time for someone else to own a treasure from the greatest cinematic voyage ever filmed.”
“This is a marquee piece from one of the most influential films of all time,” said Brian Chanes, Senior Director of Hollywood/Entertainment at Heritage Auctions. “Demand for screen-used Titanic artifacts is at a historic high. The recent sale of the ‘wall panel’ underscored that momentum—and the cherub stands at the very heart of the film’s most cherished scenes.”
“As someone who lectures on maritime history—and has spent a career studying the legacy of the Titanic—I can say with certainty that Cameron’s film has become a cultural artifact in its own right,” said David Perry, maritime historian. “This cherub isn’t just a film prop—it’s part of the global mythology of the ship itself. It represents how the story of Titanic continues to evolve, inspire, and fascinate new generations.”
About the Item: The Heritage Auctions listing describes the piece as:
“An iconic screen-used Grand Staircase cherub fixture from James Cameron’s Titanic (TCF, 1997). Used prominently throughout production and visible during multiple key sequences, it stands as one of the film’s most photographed set elements.”
Lot:Titanic (1997) – Iconic Screen-Used Grand Staircase Cherub
Live auction:July 13 – 17
About SEE Global Entertainment: SEE Global Entertainment is a worldwide leader in immersive exhibitions and live experiences, bringing iconic stories—from Titanic to Michelangelo to the pop-cultural phenomenon of Monopoly Lifesized—to millions of guests across five continents. Led by CEO Martin Biallas since 1993, SEE has redefined how audiences encounter art, culture, and entertainment.
About Heritage Auctions: Heritage Auctions is the largest auction house founded in the United States and the world’s leading expert in entertainment memorabilia. With global offices and a commitment to exceptional service, Heritage delivers record-setting results for collectors, institutions, and consignors across more than 40 categories.
Highlighted Details:
“Titanic” and Hollywood Entertainment Auction July 13–17
The time has come! Bidding is now open for Heritage Auctions’ 2026 July 13–17 Hollywood & Entertainment Signature® Auction #7332 — a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind movie memorabilia, props, costumes and cinematic history.
Among the highlights for maritime and film-history fans: a remarkable collection of items from James Cameron’s “Titanic,” including screen-used pieces from the film’s legendary First Class and Grand Staircase settings, shipboard props and furnishings, and even archival Titanic survivor material.
Featured “Titanic” lots include:
LOT #89876 – Archive of Titanic Survivor Spencer V. Silverthorne including handwritten account, correspondence and family ephemera
LOT #89877 – “Titanic” Trio of Ship Crew Hats
LOT #89879 – “Titanic” Canvas Emergency Life Vest
LOT #89881 – “Titanic” Group of Four Deck Lounge Chairs
LOT #89882 – “Titanic” First-Class Dining Room Chair
