PHILADELPHIA, May 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Commodore Evin Thompson, head of U.S. Naval Special Warfare Group Four, will join his team of about 25 elite Navy SEALs and Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) for a special visit to Philadelphia on Monday, May 26, Memorial Day. Called "Schuylkill Banks Navy Appreciation Days," the event will pay tribute to the men and women in the military who have given their lives in service to their country. Memorial Day first began to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War; it was expanded after World War I to include those who died in any war or military action.

On Memorial Day, there will be a special ceremony at Schuylkill Banks (Walnut Street Dock) at 12:30 PM. The Navy SEALs and SWCCs will arrive by boat from the South Schuylkill and will dock at Schuylkill Banks for the ceremony at approximately 12:15 PM. The patriotic ceremony will include: speakers such as Mayor Nutter (invited); Commodore Evin Thompson; Joseph Syrnick, president and CEO, SRDC; and other dignitaries. There will also be a dedication of the "Navy SEAL Grove at Schuylkill Banks," where trees will be planted in memory of the SEALs who received Medals of Honor, as TAPS is played in the background. Public tours of the boats will take place following the dedication and the SEALs and SWCCs may also take people on boat rides on the river.

Thompson, the former Navy SEAL who commands these elite fighting units, and his Special Forces personnel, will lead the tours of the Mark V Special Operations Craft, which are high-speed waterborne boats that transport naval special operations forces. Capable of speeds in excess of 50 knots and ranges of 500 nautical miles, the boat was specially designed to get Navy SEALs and other special warfare forces close to shore in a low-to-medium-threat environment. As part of their visit, the SWCCs will let the public see first- hand the boat's agility and state-of-the-art weaponry. They will also be available to talk to people about their personal experiences and what it takes to become a Navy SEAL or SWCC.

    AGENDA: The following is the schedule of their visit:

    Monday, May 26

    12:15 PM   The boats arrive at Schuylkill Banks, Walnut Street Dock.
    12:30 PM   Ceremony to welcome Navy SEALs, SWCCs with dignitaries and
               other invited guests.
    1:00 PM    Tours of the boats begin.
    3:00 PM    Demonstrations take place on the water. SWCCs show how fast the
               boats go, how they are deployed, and other in-water maneuvers.
    3:30 PM    Tours resume.
    4:30 PM    Demonstrations continue.
    5:30 PM    Tours continue.
    7:00 PM    Event concludes for the day.

COVERAGE OPPORTUNITIES: The Memorial Day visit is open for coverage. There will be opportunities to broadcast from the boats while they are docked or in motion, and one-on-one interviews are available with Commodore Thompson and some of the Special Forces members throughout the day. The boats will make their way to Schuylkill Banks from the Delaware River, and can be viewed as they approach Schuylkill Banks from the South. The boats will also be docked at Penn's Landing on May 27 and May 28 and will be offering tours for the public.