Memorial Day at the Museum
Memorial Day Ceremony
Monday, May 26, 2025
Join us for the National Navy SEAL Museum’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 26, at 9:00 AM in observance of this sacred day and with reverence for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We gather each year to honor and remember our servicemen and women who have died in the line of duty so that their legacy may live on forever.
A Flag Retirement Ceremony will commence at 8:00 AM, preceding the official service. The Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at 9:00 AM and is open to the public at no cost. Guests are kindly encouraged to arrive early to secure seating and participate in this solemn tribute. The Museum will be open to visitors from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM with complimentary admission. Attendees of all ages are welcome to join in honoring this important occasion.
Official Program
8:00 AM
Flag Retirement Ceremony
Master Chief Ken Corona, USN (Retired)
Navy SEAL Museum Executive Director
9:00 AM
Official Memorial Day Ceremony Begins
Presentation of Colors
U.S. Naval Sea Cadets Corps, American Veterans Division
National Anthem
Lieutenant Colonel Cynthia Watkins Pishdad, US Army (Retired)
Invocation
Chaplain Robert Bradshaw, CDR, USN (Retired)
Retirement of Colors
Welcome
Master Chief Ken Corona, USN (Retired)
Master Chief (SEAL) Rick Kaiser, USN (Retired)
Navy SEAL Museum Chief Operating Officer
Special Keynote Speaker
Rear Admiral (SEAL) Pete Vasely, USN (Retired)
Honoring the Fallen at the Living Beach
Addition of sand from around the globe where Frogmen have trained, fought, and died to the Living Beach.
Wreath Laying
Honoring the Fallen at the Memorial Wall
Addition of names to the Memorial Wall
Taps
Benediction
Chaplain Michael Shockley, CDR, USN (Retired)
Service Conclusion
Ken Corona
With gratitude to our U.S. Naval Sea Cadets Corps, American Veterans Division, for their support of this service.
10:15 AM
Raffle ticket drawing for weapon
2025 Keynote Speaker
Rear Admiral (SEAL) Pete Vasely, USN
Rear Admiral (RADM) Pete Vasely retired from the United States Navy in August 2024 after 34 years of active service, most recently serving as Deputy Director, Joint Training for the Joint Staff.
He was a career Naval Special Warfare (SEAL) Officer, and his assignments included a full spectrum of duties within Naval Special Warfare, joint operations, and defense intelligence communities. He commanded Naval Special Warfare Tactical Development Squadron TWO and Naval Special Warfare Group TWO in Virginia Beach, and United States Forces, Afghanistan–Forward in Kabul.
His key Joint and staff assignments include Deputy Commander at Naval Special Warfare Development Group; Director of Operations at Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC); Deputy Commanding General–Operations, United States Forces– Afghanistan (USFOR-A); Deputy Director for Operations, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA); and Deputy Director, Joint Training (J7) for the Joint Staff.
He currently serves on the Navy SEAL Foundation Board of Advisors and Special Operations Warrior Foundation Board of Directors.
A native of Coronado, California, Vasely was commissioned in 1990 from the United States Naval Academy where he received his Bachelor of Science in General Engineering. He holds a Master of Science in Joint Warfighting and Strategic Studies from the Joint Advanced Warfighting School in Norfolk, VA.
He lives with his wife of 25 years, Deanne, in Virginia Beach and has two kids, Josh and Charlotte.