Members of SEAL Team Vero Beach hosted an Extraordinary Evening fundraiser highlighted by a tale of bravery – SEAL Snipers at Morning, Pirates Take Warning: The Rescue of Captain Phillips. The event at the Quail Valley River Club was a benefit for the National Navy SEAL Museum and its Trident House Charities.
“The museum is in the middle of a major transformation from being a local museum to an international world-class museum,” said Dr. Jim Shafer, co-chair with Don McClure, in his opening remarks, before speaking about the mission of SEAL Team Vero Beach to support the museum and preserve the legacy of Navy SEALs.
“We continue to support our three pillars, which are the heritage and legacy of the program, honor our fallen on the Memorial Wall, and support our Trident House Charities, which gives to the K9 programs, family support services, scholarship program and our Trident House,” he continued.
Shafer shared news of last summer’s dedication of the U.S. Naval Combat Demolition Units Scouts & Raiders Monument Park at Omaha Beach, Normandy, commenting that more than 60 percent of the nearly $2 million needed in funding for the monument came from Treasure Coast donors.
“We will continue our mission but are growing it to take it further by leveraging the skills, the training, the mindset, and the fabric that is our U.S. Navy SEALs. These men are the tip of the spear, and by transcending their experiences, we hope to educate and inspire the current and future generations to be a better version of themselves, to understand the sacrifices made for our freedom, and to breathe a sense of patriotism and respect for others.”
A video presentation detailed the museum’s history and its mission to preserve the history and heritage of the Navy SEALs and their predecessors, honor the fallen at the Navy SEAL Memorial and care for special operatives’ families.
Rick Kaiser, SEAL Museum CEO, said its mission has changed since he came onboard 12 years ago, prompted by the realization that 77 percent of youth ages 18 to 24 cannot qualify to join the military.
“What we do at the museum is we educate. We teach people about honor, courage, commitment, sacrifice and physical fitness,” Kaiser explained.
To expand their reach, he said, they will be opening a Navy SEAL Museum in San Diego this summer.
“We’ll be able to educate that many more people about who we are, what we do, and what we need in this country to succeed,” said Kaiser.
During dinner, guests enjoyed an enlightening panel discussion with retired Merchant Marine Capt. Richard Phillips, who was taken hostage by Somali pirates in 2009, and retired Navy SEAL Christopher Browning, who was part of the rescue team.
After viewing footage of the mission, the men spoke about the harrowing experience.
Phillips described his attempts to evade the pirates and recalled the sinking feeling in his stomach when he had to announce to the crew, “Pirates aboard, pirates aboard.”
“It was hubris on my part. I thought I could keep them off the vessel with my maneuvering, but I didn’t,” said Phillips.
When the pirates failed to release Phillips in a promised trade for their own captain, he said he learned a hard-won lesson: “Never trust a pirate.”
But he had nothing but praise for the determination of the SEAL Team to bring him home.
“The precision to which they execute their business proves beyond any doubt that a well-trained, motivated team can overcome most any obstacle or solve most any problem,” said Phillips.
In addition to numerous displays inside the Fort Pierce-based SEAL Museum, there is a Memorial Wall, Memorial Garden, a Living Beach and a Special Warfare K9 Memorial on its grounds.
For more information, visit NavySealMuseum.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
