A U.S. Navy UDT/SEAL monument was unveiled during a dedication ceremony at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego on 27 August.
The monument commemorates the fallen members of the Navy’s Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs) of World War II, who courageously swam into enemy waters and reconnoitered heavily defended beaches to destroy explosives and other obstacles impeding Allied amphibious landings. The monument also honors the subsequent fallen maritime commandos who have provided the same defense and tactical support, culminating with those from today’s U.S. Navy SEAL Teams.
The ceremony included remarks by retired Navy Chaplain Reverend Michael Shockley; SEAL Captain Todd Perry, commanding officer of Naval Amphibious Base Coronado’s Center for SEAL and SWCC; retired SEAL Warrant Officer Lance Cummings; and other dignitaries.
Helicopter Sea Squadron 21, the “Blackjacks,” presented a missing-man flyover to mark the occasion.
Retired SEAL Michael Meoli, who spearheaded the creation of the monument, said, “This honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice and didn’t get to come back and enjoy the freedoms we all fought for.”
