Area monument will help honor Seabees

The U.S. Navy Seabees are not members of the armed forces we hear much about on a regular basis. Their importance, though, should not be overlooked.

On Saturday, a new Seabee monument is scheduled to be unveiled at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery at Bloomfield, Mo. A 1:30 p.m. ceremony will be held Saturday at the cemetery. Veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam will be included.

The event will include speeches by state Sen. Wayne Wallingford of Cape Girardeau and state Sen. Doug Libla of Poplar Bluff, Mo.

The project is part of Navy Seabee Veterans of America's goal to have a Seabee monument in all veterans' cemeteries around the country.

Thomas M. Meyer of Cape Girardeau was a member of the Seabees from 1969 to 1972 and is a member of the Southeast Missouri Seabee Chapter Island 5. In a story by Corey Noles of the Dexter Daily Statesman, a sister paper to the Southeast Missourian, Meyer talked about life as a member of this group.

"Wherever we were sent, we were actually under fire when we went in," Meyer said. "It was our job to secure that location so other soldiers could then enter."

It's important that we recognize our military veterans, past and present. Saturday's monument ceremony in Bloomfield surely will be touching and a fitting recognition of the work of the Seabees.

We thank all those who participated to help make this possible and hope that you consider attending the ceremony.

To all our U.S. veterans, thank you.