A Dream Becomes Reality

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.

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?

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.

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. 

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?

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!

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.