National Seabee Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia

The Seabee Memorial at Arlington, VA was sculpted by a former SEABEE, Felix de Weldon who also sculpted the world famous USMC Iwo Jima Memorial, also at Arlington. The Seabee Memorial has a number of large panels depicting the many missions that Seabees have undertaken around the world, in war and peace since 1942. At the focal point of the back panels is a large sculpture depicting a bare-chested, muscular Seabee, rifle slung over one shoulder, offering a helping hand to a small child. The panels and sculptured figures together perfectly symbolize the nature of U. S. Navy Seabee as Builders who Fight, and who also extend humanitarian aid wherever and whenever needed. Inscriptions in golden letters proudly proclaim in words the messages which the panels and figures convey visually. They are: “SEABEES CAN DO” above the panels, and “With willing hearts and skillful hands, the difficult we do at once. The impossible takes a bit longer!”, below the panels. On the base which supports the Seabee and child sculpture is inscribed: “With compassion for others, we build, we fight for peace with freedom.”

Driving Directions

From the northwest take I66 to the George Washington Parkway merging to the south at the Potomac River. Exit to Memorial Dr. and head west into Arlington. From the northwest take I395 and exit to the north on George Washington Parkway just before crossing the Potomac River. Exit at Arlington Memorial Bridge, heading left (west) on Memorial Drive and on into Arlington. Boundary Channel Bridge carries Memorial Avenue across the narrow channel between Columbia Island (in the District of Columbia) and the Virginia shore. Memorial Avenue, 64 feet wide, runs approximately four-tenths of a mile from Boundary Channel Bridge to the Arlington Hemicycle. Just west of Boundary Channel Bridge on the north side is the Seabee Memorial near the Arlington Cemetery Metro stop.