THERMAL, CA (March 27, 2025) Almost one hundred members of the Navy SEALs plus members of their families were honored on Sunday, March 11 during the last day of show jumping at the HITS Desert Horse Park. The SEALs are part of the Naval Special Warfare teams stationed at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in San Diego, California. Many of the SEALs who attended the HITS Grand Finale activities have recently returned from active service in Iraq. The HITS event was one of the largest off-base family gatherings of Navy SEALs in history. HITS was deeply honored to salute the men of this elite special forces unit who have an unparalleled record of brave military service around the world.
The idea of hosting the SEALs at HITS Thermal came to HITS President Tom Struzzieri last fall as he was standing at the construction site for the new 230-acre equestrian facility in the desert. Having heard of the bravery of the SEAL unit stationed near Ramadi, Iraqanother desert half-a-world away, it occurred to him that bringing the San Diego units and their families to Thermal was the best way for HITS to show these men how much they are appreciated for all they do for our country wherever they are deployed.
The SEALs and their families and friends arrived by bus and car from San Diego mid-morning and proceeded to enjoy the day’s festivities, including Kids Day activities that offered free pony rides for children, arts and crafts activities, a T-Rex Tunnel, baseball radar speed gun, a caricature artist and more. Following Kids Day, the 250 plus guests were treated to a buffet luncheon in the VIP Pavilion overlooking the Grand Prix and Main Hunter rings. Just prior to the start of the $150,000 Grand Prix of the Desert presented by Cessna Aircraft Corporation, there was a special on-field ceremony to honor the SEALs.
As part of the ceremony, the SEALs presented Tom Struzzieri, his wife Jane and three children, Pia, Samantha and Tommy Z, with an American flag that flew over the SEAL command center in Falluja, Iraq on September 11, 2006. On hand to make this special presentation were two SEAL Team members, both just back from Iraq.
From 1962 when the first SEAL teams were commissioned, to present day, the Navy SEALs have distinguished themselves as an individually reliable, collectively disciplined and highly skilled fighting force. The most important trait that distinguishes Navy SEALs from all other military forces is that SEALs are maritime Special Forces, as they strike from and return to the sea. SEALs take their name from the elements in and from which they operate Se a, A ir and L and. Their stealth and clandestine methods of operation allow them to conduct multiple missions against targets that larger forces cannot approach undetected. Because of the dangers inherent in Naval Special Warfare, prospective SEALs go through what is considered by many military experts to be the toughest training in the world.
HITS was proud to distribute literature from the Naval Special Warfare Foundation to guests in the VIP Pavilion. The NSW Foundation is a 501.c.3 non-profit organization that has as its mission supporting the Navy SEALs, Naval Special Warfare and their families. Through the Foundation’s Education and Motivation programs, more than $575,000 has been awarded to children, spouses and men and women of Naval Special Warfare since 2001. Other aspects of the NSW Foundation include Health and Welfare programs for families of SEALs and other Special Warfare personnel. The Foundation also has a History and Heritage mission that includes creating special monuments to U.S. Navy SEALs. Members of the public who wish to support the Naval Special Warfare Foundation may visit www.nswfoundation.org, mail contributions to NSW Foundation, PO Box 5965, Virginia Beach, VA 23471 or call (757) 363-7490 for more information.
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