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By an act of Congress, the U.S. Senate, and the signature of The President of The United States of America, We are The Official National Museum of the US Navy SEALs and Their Predecessors.
Our continuing Mission is to preserve the history of the US Navy SEALs and their predecessors, including the Underwater Demolition Teams, Naval Combat Demolition Units, Office of Strategic Services Maritime Units and Amphibious Scouts and Raiders. Located in Fort Pierce, Florida, the birthplace of the Navy Frogman, the Museum promotes public education by providing the opportunity to explore the history of the US Navy SEALs in an atmosphere of respect and honor.
We have begun fundraising to build a permanent Memorial on Museum grounds to honor the Navy frogmen and SEALs who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. These were exceptional Americans who were willing to put their lives on the line, anywhere… at anytime to ensure that we continue to enjoy our very freedom today.
The Navy SEAL Memorial will be the ONLY permanent Memorial in the world dedicated to these courageous men. The name, class, team and date of death of each man will be inscribed on black granite panels surrounding the Memorial statue. The creation of this Memorial will provide both a place of solace to loved ones and a well deserved place of honor for these special men.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Navy SEAL Memorial is unveiled.
FORT PIERCE — When the 500-pound, 9-foot-tall, bronze sculpture of a modern Navy SEAL was placed atop its pedestal in the new memorial, Dave Godshall could almost say: “Mission accomplished.”
But he won’t get to say those words until Nov. 11, when the names of all Underwater Demolition Team — the “Frogmen” of World War II and modern Navy SEALs — who have died in the service of the country are carved into black, granite panels on the walls around the sculpture and its reflecting pool.
In the simple ceremony welcoming the sculpture to the National Navy UDT/SEAL Museum, retired Navy Capt. Michael Howard, museum director, hailed Godshall as the person who conceived the idea for the statue and then spurred five years of effort to build the memorial.
Both Godshall and Howard are former SEALs, an acronym for the Navy’s elite, special force which fights on land, sea and in the air.
On Monday, Godshall and others will have the first Memorial Day service in the museum’s 25-year history at the new memorial.
“Five years ago, we were losing SEALs at a rapid rate in Afghanistan,” said Godshall, a Vero Beach real estate broker. “I wondered how all those men, and all the other Frogman and SEALs were being memorialized after their funerals. I found out that nowhere in the world is there a memorial to their sacrifice. Now there is, right here in Fort Pierce where the tradition began.”
The statue was brought by a large crane, which lifted it over the trees.
Looking at the new memorial, the only one of its kind in the world, Godshall said he “felt good.”
Godshall said the museum and the memorial now can be a place where the families of the fallen can come and reflect on the sacrifices of their men.
The bronze sculpture is the work of Roy Shifrim, an internationally known sculptor with works in many American and European cities.
The sculpture does not have a name. Shifrim said he thinks the SEALs will come up with one on their own.
“I was proud to get this commission,” Shifrim said. “But I did not want it to be a sad memorial, so I designed it to be a representation of how and where the men fought. I think they would want that when their families come here.”
But he won’t get to say those words until Nov. 11, when the names of all Underwater Demolition Team — the “Frogmen” of World War II and modern Navy SEALs — who have died in the service of the country are carved into black, granite panels on the walls around the sculpture and its reflecting pool.
In the simple ceremony welcoming the sculpture to the National Navy UDT/SEAL Museum, retired Navy Capt. Michael Howard, museum director, hailed Godshall as the person who conceived the idea for the statue and then spurred five years of effort to build the memorial.
Both Godshall and Howard are former SEALs, an acronym for the Navy’s elite, special force which fights on land, sea and in the air.
On Monday, Godshall and others will have the first Memorial Day service in the museum’s 25-year history at the new memorial.
“Five years ago, we were losing SEALs at a rapid rate in Afghanistan,” said Godshall, a Vero Beach real estate broker. “I wondered how all those men, and all the other Frogman and SEALs were being memorialized after their funerals. I found out that nowhere in the world is there a memorial to their sacrifice. Now there is, right here in Fort Pierce where the tradition began.”
The statue was brought by a large crane, which lifted it over the trees.
Looking at the new memorial, the only one of its kind in the world, Godshall said he “felt good.”
Godshall said the museum and the memorial now can be a place where the families of the fallen can come and reflect on the sacrifices of their men.
The bronze sculpture is the work of Roy Shifrim, an internationally known sculptor with works in many American and European cities.
The sculpture does not have a name. Shifrim said he thinks the SEALs will come up with one on their own.
“I was proud to get this commission,” Shifrim said. “But I did not want it to be a sad memorial, so I designed it to be a representation of how and where the men fought. I think they would want that when their families come here.”
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