Day 141 - February 19, 2013: The SEALs and the Manatees

This morning we headed out for the National Navy UDT-SEAL (Underwater Demolition Team - SEa, Air, Land Teams) Museum and Memorial, which was recently rated as the number one tourist attraction along the Treasure Coast of Florida. We came in at the 10:00 opening, and it was already filling up.

UDT-SEAL Museum and Memorial

The SEALS were created in WWII as frogmen and had the dangerous task of clearing the beaches of obstacles before the marines attacked. Since then, they have evolved into the most elite commando force in the world, participating in critical ways in every conflict known and unknown, and generating a history that is cloaked in secrecy and heroism. Their recent special forces classified missions (e.g., Osama bin Laden) have unfortunately been revealed to the public through politicized government announcements and leaks to the press, and while they cause Americans to better appreciate the SEALS, they also inform our enemies of the methods used.

In 2009, the cargo ship Maersk Alabama was boarded by terrorists who took the captain hostage in a life boat. SEALs were brought in and skilled marksmen were able to kill the three terrorists in the lifeboat and rescue the captain. This lifeboat is the one involved and is in the museum.

Maersk Alabama life boat in which terrorists were killed

In May 2011, Osama bin Laden was killed in a raid based on CIA intelligence and conducted by the SEALs. The models used by CBS 60 Minutes during post event news coverage are at the museum. There are many other displays of the evolution of the SEALs, their roles, personnel and equipment.

Osama bin Laden's compound during the raid

Osama bin Laden's house

After lunch, I spotted seven manatees, also known as "sea cows," swimming near our dock. We ran out to see them, and I got some good pictures of these interesting mammals. A mature manatee is typically 12 feet long and weighs 1200 pounds. They spend half the day sleeping in the water and half grazing and eating bottom plants. They are an endangered species, and there are signs along the ICW identifying zones where manatees congregate and requiring slow speeds so boats don't run over them. This manatee has just raised his head to breathe. 

Manatee raising his head to breathe

This motivated us to ride over and visit the Manatee Observation and Education Center, which had a good movie and many displays. It was interesting to learn more about them.