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US Navy Divers’ Monument History of Development

#1. 08/10/19, Everything starts as a dream.  We were attending a funeral of a diver shipmate at Miramar National Cemetery about three years ago.  The deceased had been a member of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit ONE Reserve Detachment 419 San Diego.  Although the unit was disbanded in 2007, many of the former members still stayed close.  As we passed the three monuments that were at the cemetery (Navy Nurses, SEABEES, and Jewish Servicemen) one member said, “There should be a monument to Navy Divers here.”

That is how the idea came about.  We soon learned that monuments do not grow out of the ground themselves.  We learned that one must Make things happen… but being Navy Divers, we knew we could make anything happen.

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#2.  08/12/19, The First Step was to learn the Rules.  The Director of the cemetery handed over a copy of the VA instruction for donating a monument.  There were size and cost restrictions, no names or weapons could be included, permissions to obtain, accounting of funds, the monument would have to be maintained by the group for 50 years, and so on.  After a visit to a grave monument company for what materials and production might be, the stage was set.  It appeared daunting.  We proposed the idea to the DET 419 group for support of such an endeavor.  Det 419 members were enthusiastic.  That sparked the dream, transforming it into a Project.

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#3. 10/15/20, Now a Project — the grand mountain to climb, the great tsunami to surf – the next step was to form a Non-Profit Organization – a 501.c.3.  Not an easy task.  It took nine months to obtain, but Det 419 now was in position to make the request to donate a monument to Miramar National Cemetery.  But what would it look like?  How could the group show honor to the Diving Community?  What made a monument stand out and show proper homage?  The group was lucky to have a member who had just created and placed a monument for SEALS, so we had his administrative experience.  We planned to use the same stoneworking company in Ohio, where they laser-etch words and pictures into black granite (which would last between 400 to 600 years…  probably long enough).   But what should the monument look like?

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#4.  04/16/21, A grand gathering of Det 419 members met in San Diego at a member’s home.  After some informative and motivating presentations, a flood of ideas were offered.  By email, members submitted design ideas.  We agreed that we would look for the best possible design and then make it happen.  A Design Team formed as eight members showed great interest.  Eventually the Team selected the design, words to appear, and pictures to be etched.  The dream was taking form.

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#5.  01/15/22, Next came pricing and further liaison. The company that would make the monument accepted the plan and drew up concept drawings.   A Jeweler agreed to make the larger than life Diving Pins.  A foundation company accepted the job of making the base upon which the monument would be placed.  The Team ensured each of these different company representatives spoke with the other to ensure the proper interfaces. 

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#6.  08/26/22, Then the moment came to submit the Request to Donate a Monument to the VA/Director of Miramar National Cemetery.  The documents showed what the monument would look like, showed we were a non-profit, that we had designed a monument that was respectful, acceptable, and per the VA standards.  There were more forms to fill out.  Then more…    Would we receive permission?  Would they require changes?  Would they reject us outright?

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#7. 10/16/22, A concept drawing of the monument is currently under constructions. 

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#8. 11/22/22, Once the Design Team came up with an agreed upon design (months of effort, comparison, conversation, exchange, barter, and even reason), we drew up the Request to Donate a Monument to the VA/National Cemetery.  Weeks passed, suspense thickened, and finally a response came back that our design was really great and the monument would be a credit to the Cemetery, however, it was too involved, too wordy, too…….  Much.   Being Deep Sea Divers and able to adapt, the Team met via emails and a “toned down” Memorial design was developed.  We submitted it again, and now the VA is looking it over.  Will they approve what we have now?  Will the essence of Navy Diving be preserved?  Big questions of life.  With Christmas ’22 coming up, will the Det’s dream be bestowed?   Stand by, Red Diver!

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#9  06/15/23, Progress is being made for acceptance of the latest modified design.  The Team submitted its third Request to Donate a Monument on 16 March, 2023, and after a month’s review in Washington DC, we received word from the Director of Miramar National Cemetery that it had cleared that site, and was now being forwarded to the Regional VA Office for review.  This is an important step!  In conversation with the owner of the stonework company in Ohio manufacturing our monument, he estimated that once we gave him the “Go” message, the monument would be finished and shipped, ready to be placed by the local company in Vista in three months. 

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#10 07/01/23, To help with further fundraising for the project, we would like to announce an Official Raffle!  The first prize is a GLOCK 19 semiauto pistol with two mags and a case (California compliant).  There will be other cool prizes as well.  One raffle ticket is $20 and you may purchase Six tickets for only $100 (a bonus ticket!).  The drawing will be at the Monument Celebration Gathering that will follow the placement of the monument.  Winners of the First Prize must be 21 years old and be able to meet the requirements of ATF form 4473 (we will go through a local FFL dealer to transfer the weapon).  If you do not meet one of those requirements but are drawn for First Prize, you will be able to select one of the other nice prizes. 

Tickets are available in one of three ways:

• Mail a check to Ed Poss, address at the very top of this web site, and tell how many tickets you wish to have.
• Make an electronic donation on the web site donation button and immediately send an email to Ed Poss ([email protected]) telling how many tickets you have purchased via the “NOTE” box.
• Purchase a ticket from one of the Design Team Members (email to arrange a meeting).
  • Frank Purdy (East County San Diego) [email protected]
  • Ed Poss (San Diego) [email protected]
  • Rick Tate (Ramona) [email protected]
  • Marc Rasmussen (Alpine) [email protected]
  • David Swingle (New Mexico or Wisconsin) [email protected]

Design Team Members and their immediate families may not participate in the raffle. 

100% of all donations go to production and placement of the monument. 

Raffle ticket price is not tax deductible (sorry), however all regular donations are tax deductible.

Remember how much Navy Diving has affected your life and career.  How about a few tickets?

(Updated 08/30/23) Raffle Ticket sales will be coming to an end soon, please contact one of the Divers above for tickets, or email us and we can send tickets to you.

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#11: 08/30/23, Life is full of excitement and challenges.  Having passed through the Director of the Miramar National Cemetery with full support (review #4), our Request to Donate a Monument went up to the VA District Office in Oakland for its final review and acceptance (review #5).   Except, although accepted as designed, the Director there decided that the VA in Washington DC needed a final approval as well.  Why Not?  Now, the Undersecretary of the VA must give his approval (review #6).  We have no idea of the time period for this to happen, but we are looking for a positive result.  As stated some time ago, monuments do not grow out of the ground by themselves, people must make them happen.                                                                      We are Navy Divers and can do anything!  Take a vent, Green Diver.

PS; We are narrowing down a date to for the Gun Raffle. 

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#12 11/26/23, The conversation with the Director of Cemeteries (Washington DC) went well.  Three offices of the VA had reviewed our design and the DC said that our monument will be the finest of all the monuments (at its level – not in the level of 12-foot tall statues) at all the National Cemeteries.  Being Request number six, he still had some toning down requirements… and a creative suggestion.  After some reviews and redesigning by our monument team, we are about to send in Request number seven to the VA in Washington DC.  Regarding the bronze diving pins on the monument, sadly our jeweler in Albuquerque has closed his business.  However, we have found another jeweler artist in Wisconsin who is looking forward to making our pins.  We are close!

*As a side note; this endeavor is years in the making. This team has been working diligently on every aspect. Those of you who have campaigned, donated, followed and supported in some way, this team appreciates your contribution to this cause. Another year will pass, and 2024 looks promising. The hopeful plan for next year is to have the gun raffle, get positive word back from the VA, finish details on the monument and place the monument at Miramar National Cemetery. Report back on station for updates.   

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#13 02/23/24, A couple of weeks ago the team convened for a meeting to discussed the VA continued requirements and restraints. There was much discussion on the final laser engraved back side picture and on the side of the monument. The team is attempting to depict military diving and the VA wants the pictures to be of a particular nature. We are attempting to appease both. The team brought in one of the team member’s daughter to help with the art work. We did have one of the dive pins cast (1st Class pin) for the monument, it looks awesome! We talked about having the whole line of pins cast to sale for anyone that wants one or two? Currently, no price has been set, they are not cheap. In addition, the Gun Raffle is still a concern and we are still figuring out a date to pick a winner.

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#14 08/05/24, We are currently waiting on the VA for final approval on the monument. Once we receive approval we will be able to move forward with further logistics. Please be patient. 

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#15

Dreams Lead to Reality:  Early in September 2024 we submitted our #8 Request to Donate a Monument to the VA and we are eagerly awaiting a positive response.  Once the approval comes, the monument will be completed and shipped in about three months.  In early 2025, on a pleasant day in San Diego at Miramar National Cemetery, we will have the dedication ceremony. Soon.

Hopefully.

During this last year we had a face-to-face meeting of the Design Team, when fine nuances and redesigns were determined.  The big thing with the VA has been our use of the Laser Company to create artwork on the monument…  to make it more than just a lump of granite with a few words scratched on it.  A piece of artwork in itself.  We have removed two pieces of artwork on the front panels at the VA’s request, and probably the artwork on the side (a collage of diving systems) will not be approved.  Our hopes go for the picture on the back side — a re-creation of a diving operation off an ARS, with divers descending into the dark ocean depths — will be approved.  The concern from the VA is that it will set a precedent for other future such monuments.  We think it tells the diving story and will help viewers to better remember their Diver family member who has passed on. 

We have had assistance from the daughter of one Design Team member and the neighbor of another who used their knowledge of computer graphics and art to redraw and make adjustments to the pictures that we have submitted.  This was a gracious volunteer action on both of their parts, and their names will be listed in another such announcement.   We found a new bronze-caster artist for the Diver Pins that will line the top panel of the monument.  He lives in the southern end of Wisconsin and is truly an artist.  Of course our monument company in Ohio and the Foundation and Placing company in Fallbrook are still with us.  We also met a new requirement of the VA, that being obtaining permission from the Trademark Department of the US Navy to use the Diver Seal and the Diver Pins, and from the Marines to use their Diver Pin.  At first we thought permission might come from the Navy Exchange!

There will be the Post-Ceremony Celebration gathering immediately after the ceremony, to which all will be invited (RSVPs will be appreciated for food-planning, of course), and the drawings for all the great prizes (including the Glock 19) will take place then.   Details will follow, once we receive approval of the monument.

We appreciate, so very much, all the donors who have given their money to help make this monument come to existence.  Every single dollar has gone to (or is still held for) the monument’s production – we have not even funded stamps from your donations — every dollar is going to the monument.

So… hopefully the next posting will be that the VA has approved design #8.   

Stand by, Red Diver!

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