Seabee Memorial, Arlington

The Seabees Memorial, created by sculptor Felix de Weldon, is a significant tribute to the Seabees, located along Memorial Drive near the entrance of Arlington National Cemetery. Managed by the National Park Service as part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Arlington, this memorial was authorized by Congress in 1972 and dedicated on Memorial Day in 1974.

The memorial features a series of panels that depict various Seabee missions since 1942. At its center stands a bronze figure of a muscular Seabee, bare-chested and with a rifle slung over one shoulder, offering a hand to a small child. This representation symbolizes the dual roles of the Seabees in both construction and combat.

The memorial also includes inscriptions in gold above and below the panels. The phrase "SEABEES CAN DO" is prominently displayed, alongside another inscription: "With willing hearts and skillful hands, the difficult we do at once. The impossible takes a bit longer!" The base of the sculpture carries the words: "With compassion for others / we build – we fight / for peace with freedom." This text highlights the Seabees' commitment to building and fighting for peace and freedom.