Veterans, families and youth organizations came together Monday morning under gray skies in Star Park to honor men and women – and especially members of SEAL Team 6 – who sacrificed their lives serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
A Presentation of Colors, prayers, Bible readings, speakers and the singing of the National Anthem were part of the Memorial Day service that included local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
The holiday occurs on the last Monday in May, and Post 2422 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars celebrates and honors the fallen in Coronado, home to the Naval Special Warfare Center and Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training or BUD/S.
Remembering SEAL Team 6
Guest Speaker Keith B. Davids, USN, current Commander, Navy Special Warfare command was among the speakers and gave a heartwarming message.
He spoke on remembering the fallen soldiers who had lost their lives in 2011, when a Chinook helicopter carrying members of SEAL Team 6 and others were shot down in Afghanistan.
“When we experienced the downing of Extortion 17, the greatest loss in Naval Special Warfare history and the single deadliest incident of the U.S. War in Afghanistan, Coronado shared in our grief.”
–Keith B. Davids, USN, current Commander, Navy Special Warfare command.
“When we experienced the downing of Extortion 17, the greatest loss in Naval Special Warfare history and the single deadliest incident of the U.S. War in Afghanistan, Coronado shared in our grief,” said Davids. “As we remember our teammates whose sacrifices and acts of heroism on the battlefield serve as examples of uncompromising commitment and courage, we will never forget the patriotism, incredible care and concern of our Coronado friends and neighbors.”
The tragedy occurred on Aug. 6, 2011, when the final flight of Extortion 17 resulted in the single deadliest incident for the US military during the War in Afghanistan.
When the Boeing CH-47D Chinook helicopter was hit, all 38 onboard were instantly killed, according to NavySEALS.com.
Of those killed, 17 were Navy SEALs, 15 from the Gold Squadron of the Special Warfare Development Group – better known as SEAL Team 6, according to the website.
Months earlier, the group had been involved in the raid that took out al-Qaeda founder, Osama Bin Laden.
More than 200 in attendance
More than 200 people attended the service, which included veterans and representatives from all branches of the military.
Children dressed in red, white and blue who were part of The Old Goats for Kids Who Care were in attendance handing out American flags to the audience.
Coronado Veterans of Foreign Wars (Post 2422) hosted the Memorial Day services, and this year’s event was located next to the historic home of L. Frank Baum, author of “The Wizard of Oz.”
Tradition since the 1930s
Joe Ditler, who helped promote the event for Post 2422 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said the organization was founded in 1932, when 100 members of the community signed a petition to be granted their own chapter.
Memorial Day services have been honored in Coronado since the 1930s, in the midst of The Great Depression, according to Ditler.
Coronado VFW Post 2422 hosts this annual event in conjunction with the United States
Navy League (Coronado Council), the Military Officers’ Association of America (Silver
Strand Chapter), and the Marine Corps League (Coronado Detachment).
Petty Officer 1st Class Felicito Rustique Jr., Naval Special Warfare Command of Defense Visual Information Distribution Service contributed to this report.
