Palm Beach Society: Kickoff for Navy SEAL 'Evening of Tribute' draws patriotic crowd

The landmark Colony Hotel was the setting for a cocktail reception to kick off the biennial salute to the Navy SEALs.

The reception took place Nov.16.

More Palm Beach society news here.

The evening for supporters, friends and honored military guests included cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, music and remarks from Michael Kluger.

Kluger is co-chairman ― with Elliot Hershberg and Matt Smith ― of the upcoming Palm Beach Navy SEAL Evening of Tribute fundraiser.

In his welcome remarks, Kluger acknowledged his co-chairmen and also gave a shout-out to Rebecca Williams and Margie O’Neil, who co-founded the Evening of Tribute event in 2011.

Kluger then introduced SEAL Michael Donnelly, who led a panel discussion with retired SEAL Rick Kaiser, chief operating officer of the Navy SEAL Museum; retired SEAL Grant Mann, executive director of the Navy SEAL Museum; and SEAL Michael Hall, who captured the audience with his riveting war stories.

A Q-and-A followed.

The elite Navy SEAL warriors will be honored at the sixth Biennial Palm Beach Navy SEAL Evening of Tribute, on April 3 at The Breakers.

The patriotic evening will feature the greatly anticipated SEAL Demonstration and keynote speaker retired Vice Adm. Sean Pybus. Proceeds will benefit the Navy SEAL Foundation and Navy SEAL Museum and Trident House.

The Navy SEAL’s Foundation’s mission is to provide immediate and ongoing assistance to the Naval Special Warfare community and their families through five pillars: Warrior support and family services, educational opportunities, tragedy assistance, survivor support and legacy preservation.

The National Navy Museum in Fort Pierce, the birthplace of the Navy SEALS and UDT/Frogmen, is dedicated to preserving the heritage of the U.S. Special Naval Warfare community through the collection and preservation of materials, objects and images that document the history of the Navy Underwater Demolition Teams, Scouts and Raiders, Naval Combat Demolition Units, Strategic Services Maritime Units and Navy SEALs.

The Memorial honors the fallen and provides their families and the public a place to honor and respect their sacrifices. The Museum’s Trident House provides a home of respite for the families of fallen SEALs as well as serving active SEALs and other Special Operations Forces who are injured or battle-fatigued and need a place to reconnect with their families.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Kickoff for Navy SEAL 'Evening of Tribute' draws patriotic crowd