National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum expects record-breaking crowd at annual Muster

Laurie K. Blandford - 

In a year where Navy SEALs dominated news, staff at the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum expects the 26th annual Muster to be bigger and better than ever.

Capt. Michael Howard, a retired SEAL and executive director of the museum on North Hutchinson Island, said he expects a record-breaking 15,000 people from across the world at this year's Veteran's Day weekend event.

And he said the number of visitors to the museum, which is climbing each year, also should break records this year.

Howard expects more people than ever at the Muster because former presidential candidate Ross Perot is speaking.

Osama bin Laden also was killed by SEALs and 18 SEALs were killed on a rescue mission in Afghanistan.

"We think for all those reasons combined," Howard said, "it's going to be a very special Muster."

Howard said the Muster has never had a celebrity as big as Perot speak. Past guest speakers include a four-star admiral, a congressman, an assistant secretary of the Navy and Capt. Richard Phillips, who was held hostage by pirates and saved by SEALs in an orange lifeboat now housed at the museum.

Perot, who graduated from the Naval Academy and is a supporter of the special operations community, is a life member of the museum but never visited it. Howard said Perot responded yes faster than any other speaker.

"We're real excited about it," Howard said. "He's a great American and a great patriot and a great success." After the museum announced Perot as the guest speaker, Howard said he received many phone calls and visits from people making sure it's true.

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