[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5116 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5116
To recognize the Memorial, Memorial Garden, and K9 Memorial of the
National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the official
national memorial, memorial garden, and K9 memorial, respectively, of
Navy SEALs and their predecessors.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 27, 2021
Mr. Mast (for himself, Mrs. Murphy of Florida, Mr. Waltz, Ms. Castor of
Florida, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Posey, Mr. Gaetz, Mr. Steube,
Mr. Gimenez, and Ms. Salazar) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To recognize the Memorial, Memorial Garden, and K9 Memorial of the
National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the official
national memorial, memorial garden, and K9 memorial, respectively, of
Navy SEALs and their predecessors.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. RECOGNITION OF THE MEMORIAL, MEMORIAL GARDEN, AND K9
MEMORIAL OF THE NATIONAL NAVY UDT-SEAL MUSEUM IN FORT
PIERCE, FLORIDA, AS THE OFFICIAL NATIONAL MEMORIAL,
MEMORIAL GARDEN, AND K9 MEMORIAL, RESPECTIVELY, OF NAVY
SEALS AND THEIR PREDECESSORS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Museum.--
(A) The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum is the only
museum dedicated solely to preserving the history of
the United States Navy SEALs and their predecessors.
Located in Fort Pierce, Florida, the Museum resides on
the training grounds of the original Navy combat
divers, the Frogmen.
(B) Built to honor those who served with fortitude
and dedication, the Museum first opened its doors on
Veterans Day in 1985. From humble beginnings, the
facility has experienced tremendous growth, achieving
national stature in 2007.
(C) The main objective of the Museum remains the
promotion of public education by providing the
opportunity to explore the history of the United States
Navy SEALs through interactive exhibits, while honoring
the fallen at the Navy SEAL Memorial and caring for
those warriors' families through the Trident House
Charities Program.
(2) Memorial.--
(A) The names inscribed on the black granite walls
of the Navy SEAL Memorial, which is located on Museum
grounds, honor every Frogman who has died in combat or
in training since World War II. Original units include
the Naval Combat Demolition Units, Scouts and Raiders,
Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT), OSS Maritime
Swimmers, and Navy SEALs.
(B) Each Memorial Day, the names of all Frogmen who
have fallen the previous year are added to the
Memorial. Family members honor their loved ones by
reading the name as it is unveiled. Family members then
receive a rubbing of the name to remember the sacrifice
of the fallen. Sand is collected from around the world
where Frogmen have fought and died and is placed in a
special set of UDT scuba tanks in front of the combat
diver sculpture at the center of the Memorial.
(C) Bronze statues depicting a Vietnam-era SEAL,
modern day SEAL, and SEAL Combat Assault Dog guard the
entrance of the Memorial and remind visitors of the
warriors who made the ultimate sacrifice for the United
States.
(3) Memorial garden.--
(A) The Navy SEAL Memorial Garden was created to
replicate the botanical history of the Navy SEALs and
their predecessors.
(B) The Memorial Garden showcases flowers best
representing the countries associated with the five
major wars our country has fought in the modern era:
World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Iraq
War, and the War in Afghanistan. World War II and the
Vietnam and Iraq Wars are represented by strategically
placed marble flower pots, two in the shape of a folded
flag and one in the shape of a winding delta guardedly
holding plants native to--or that grow in the area of--
each war.
(C) Each of the more than 1,000 flowers planted in
the Memorial Garden represents a specific location
around the globe where Navy Frogmen have fought and
died.
(D) The Memorial Garden is a ``living'' display of
tribute, providing a place of solace and reflection for
families and patrons in close proximity to the Navy
SEAL Memorial.
(E) The Museum maintains an ongoing review of Naval
Special Warfare areas of operation and conflicts to
ensure flowers selected best represent those locations.
(4) K9 memorial.--
(A) The Naval Special Warfare K9 Memorial was
created to honor the K9s that have served alongside
Navy SEALs since the Vietnam War.
(B) Navy SEALs that have had the privilege and
honor to serve with these K9s commonly express that
these warriors are responsible for saving the lives of
not only the Navy SEALs, but countless innocent
civilians in harm's way.
(C) Navy SEAL Combat Assault Dogs unselfishly give
their lives for their teammates. The bond between SEAL
and dog is unbreakable.
(D) The name of every Navy SEAL Combat Assault Dog
that has made the ultimate sacrifice is etched in the
black granite of the SEAL K9 Memorial.
(b) Recognition.--The Memorial, Memorial Garden, and K9 Memorial of
the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, located at 3300 North Highway A1A,
North Hutchinson Island, in Fort Pierce, Florida, are recognized as the
official national memorial, memorial garden, and K9 memorial,
respectively, of Navy SEALs and their predecessors.
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