Title: 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.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This bill designates 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.

[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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