Sand Sculpture Honors 50th Anniversary of Navy SEALs

Fifty years after President John F. Kennedy established the U.S. Navy SEALs, a former SEAL helped organize a tribute to the elite Naval unit trained to operate in all the environments (Sea, Air and Land) for which they are named.

Mark Baum was on the beach at Seventh Street in Ocean City at 1 p.m. Thursday as a sand sculpture bearing the message "50th Anniversary U.S. Navy SEALs" was completed.

Baum is a Vietnam veteran, a former SEAL, and a 31-year veteran of the Ocean City Beach Patrol (he retired in 2007). He also organized the Aug. 1 U.S. Navy SEAL Challenge, a run-swim on the beach in Longport that helped raise funds for the families of Navy SEALs.

The Soltys family of Doylestown, Pa., created the sandy tribute to the SEALs.

The event was sponsored by No Greater Love, a patriotic organization founded by Carmella LaSpada in 1971 to serve those who have lost a loved one in service of country or by an act of terrorism.

LaSpada said the sand sculpture was the first event of the year to recognize the SEALs' anniversary.