'Light In Darkness' Navy SEAL Museum Held In Posterity By Long Island Government Now

WEST SAYVILLE, NY — As the idea of a museum dedicated to U.S. Navy SEALs in honor of hometown hero Lt. Michael P. Murphy became a glimmer of hope, his father, Dan, wondered how it would take shape and get moving.

Now that it is more than one year after the museum opened, its board members, the charges of a legal agreement to return the building to Suffolk, decided to do so ceremoniously on Wednesday by recognizing two of the most influential men involved with its construction.

When the idea was first brought to County Executive Steve Bellone, he thought it could serve as a beacon for Suffolk given the many challenges its residents were facing.

Leading up to it, the county faced devastating flooding and erosion from storms like Tropical Storm Irene, Superstorm Sandy, and the blockbuster Nor'easter Nemo — that was only weather-related crisis items.

"I thought it could really be a light in the darkness against the calamities and challenges we were facing," said Bellone, a U.S. Army veteran.

Talks of a location on the Long Island Maritime Museum's property in West Sayville as a headquarters began around 2015.

The county-owned property was already the practice site for the U.S. Navy sea cadets unit named in Murphy's honor, and supporters believed it would be a fitting place for a home. Like other historic locations on the South Shore, the museum property, which overlooks Great South Bay, is steeped in local sea lore, displaying reminders of sailors' storied past along the water.

"When something like this starts, you don't know how it may end, but given this building, in the name for and the family involved, I really felt like this could work, and more importantly, I thought it was an amazing thing for the county," he said.

He ended up working to see that through along with Legis. Bill Lindsay, Jr.

Bellone was familiar with Murphy's tragic story, but also how his family persevered after his death and struggled to keep his legacy alive. Murphy, a Patchogue-Medford High School graduate, was killed in an ambush along with two teammates in Afghanistan in 2005. A fourth man escaped to safety, hiding in the hills before a friendly villager's family helped him.

When Marcus Luttrell, the lone survivor, was reunited with the military, he was able to tell how Murphy risked his own life to get out on a ledge and use a phone with satellite capabilities to call for help, exposing himself to the Taliban.

Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2007 for the valor that he showed that fateful day after his team's insertion into the mountains behind enemy lines.

In Bellone's inauguration speech, he made special mention of Murphy.

"When I was approached, this being on county property, and by any opportunity for the county to highlight an association with a man like Michael Murphy, I thought it would be a great day for Suffolk County," he said.

As a political neophyte, and newly-minted county executive, Bellone faced many challenges, but when faced with another challenge to knock off his list, museum supporters say he stepped up to the plate in a major way.

When it came time for the foundation to fulfill its agreement with Suffolk, the Michael Murphy Foundation, operators of the museum, found it was fitting to turn the property back over to Bellone while he was still in office.

Bellone is term-limited, with his last day at the county's helm being Dec. 31.

With turning the building back over to the county, it is protected in the future should anything ever happen to the board, Dan Murphy said.

There is no plan for anything to happen to the board.

Under the 99-year licensing agreement, the non-profit foundation will be responsible for the upkeep of and operations of the building, which was constructed using private donations rather than public.

Local builder Vince Calvosa oversaw the construction of the building from start to finish.
He said that on the project, he learned what generosity is really is about.

"I've seen the people who stepped up, and the amount of money that we raised, whether it was materials, supplies, or actually dollars came from average everyday people," he said.

Calvosa noted that the county is home to some of the biggest supporters of veterans.

"This museum speaks to a local hero, and is there's ever a chance to come down to the south shore they need to stop here," he said.

Bellone and Calvosa were both honored with plaques from the board in recognition of their service to the museum.

The museum contains a comprehensive tribute to SEALs dating back to the team's evolution during World War II, on through the Vietnam conflict, and up to the present day.

The exhibits starts with a historical walk-through of the elite unit's beginning, featuring a replica of an early underwater detonation system, followed by a weapons display amid news footage from the Vietnam era, and then examples of training gear.

There are original helmets worn by Murphy in Basic Underwater Demolition training, as well as a log-roll exhibit.

The training exhibit shows examples of grappling, as well as rafting.

A dive simulator ride awaits after the training area.

The museum also shows a replica of 9/11 orchestrator Osama Bin Laden's compound, which the

SEALs infiltrated, ultimately leading to his death.

The heart of the museum is a special area, which is dedicated to Operation Red Wings, and features a multi-media presentation with movies, photos, and artifacts related to Murphy and his team.

The area was most recently gifted CamelBak water pack that is believed to have been worn by Murphy in Afghanistan.

Murphy's brother, John, said it's nice to have another item at the museum owned by his brother.

He thinks the the honors given at the ceremony were very deserving, noting the proclamation to Bellone considering it's part of his last term.

"I think it's kind of fitting this moment as the end of his term to see the fruits of his labor," he said.

Murphy's mother, Maureen, who volunteers at the museum and remains in contact with other Gold Star moms, said the museum is rewarding for visitors, not only in the historical sense but for the soul.

In addition to regular curiosity seekers, many school and veterans groups visit.

The wall of slain SEALs is where many are drawn to.

"They understand and they love it," she said. "I think it's spiritual."