Why a Memorial Day

“Congressional Medal Of Honor"

   Petty Officer, 2nd Class Mike Monsoor               

  April 5th, 1981 ~ September 29th, 2009

He is an American hero who because he never played major league baseball…who because he never played in the NFL, the NBA or the NHL - and who has never been featured in a motion picture or ever nominated as one of the world’s most eligible bachelors and who was never highlighted in “Who’s Who” is, therefore, someone very few Americans know of. 

 He just gave his life in the belief of the principles and ideals we should all cherish.  He died in Iraq covering a grenade with his body saving the lives of a contingent of Navy Seals.  His funeral was held at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.

As six pallbearers removed the rosewood casket from the hearse the column of people that stretched from the hearse to the grave site dispersed and followed behind the casket.  

This column included the 45 Navy Seals who were in Iraq on September 29, 2009, the day Petty Officer Monsoor died.

   When the casket arrived at a Navy Seal, he would remove his gold Trident Pin from his uniform, and slap it down with enough force to embed the pin into the top of the wooden casket.  The Navy Seal would then step back and salute. 

The gold Trident Pin, worn by the Navy Seals, is awarded after more than 18 weeks of training and marks their entry into this prestigious group.  It is a symbol of success and pride.


Each of the 45 Slaps could be heard throughout the cemetery.  

The 45 Trident Pins gave the casket the appearance of having a gold inlay.

He was posthumously awarded The 
Medal Of Honor.  It is the highest military honor awarded for personal acts of valor that are above and beyond the call of duty.  

And now you are one of the very 

few who also know of Petty Officer 2nd Class Mike Monsoor.