Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation Has a Lot to Celebrate at the Man in the Sea Museum

PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL (February 17, 2025) – On March 6th at 4:00 p.m., the Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation, in partnership with the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Man in the Sea Museum, will host an official ribbon cutting and the reveal of a newly designed reef at the museum. Joe Theodorou, President of the Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation, expressed his enthusiasm, “We are really excited to have so much community support. The Panama City Beach Chamber always puts on a fantastic event. Then, we have the added help of Steve Mulholland and his team at the Man in the Sea. This is just going to be a great way for us kick o our new year, and set the tone for what’s to come.”

The Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation, a veteran-run nonprofit, had an incredible first year in 2024, from its strategic partnership with the Man in the Sea Museum, to the unveiling of the Military Diver Memorial and a beautiful Veterans Day Celebration of Life for retired CWO4 Oscar Westbrook. As we move into 2025, the fledgling foundation is poised to build on this momentum with exciting announcements in this first quarter of the year.

For those unfamiliar with the Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation, this 501(c)(3) nonprofit honors veterans, first responders, and their K-9 service dogs by placing their cremated remains into prepositioned artificial reefs. These memorial reefs are not only a tribute to loved ones but also serve to enhance local marine ecosystems, support the fishing community, and boost the local tourism economy. After all, their motto is, “Honoring the Past, Restoring the Future”. In addition, the Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation provides the families, of the deceased, with the GPS coordinates of the reef which allows them to visit and celebrate the lives of their loved ones.

The newly designed reef has been made possible through the foundation’s strategic partnership with local business owner Steve Harman of Harman Metal Arts. Steve Harman, shares the foundation’s passion for honoring our country’s and community’s warriors, and restoring the marine environment. He is also extremely committed to creating innovative artificial reefs. “Being able to build reefs in my hometown, which I love, and seeing the impact it has on our ocean and marine life, has been an incredible journey,” says Harman. "When I met Joe, Gretchen, and the Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation team, I knew that this was the right path. I’m proud to contribute to their mission." Steve Harman and his company, Harman Metal Arts, are donating the first two artificial reefs to the Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation. “In order to truly kick things o quickly, I decided to design, build, and donate the first two reefs, completely at my cost, which is around fifteen thousand dollars. This donation is just the beginning. My goal is to scale up and build tens, if not hundreds, of reefs each year,”
says Harman. “The more we build, the more we can keep the cost down. I’d like to get the cost down to twenty-five hundred dollars each.”

The alliance between Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation and Steve Harman, was made possible through an introduction by the Coastal Resource Coordinator for University of Florida/ IFAS Extension Bay County, Chantille Weber. Weber, who is the visionary behind the recently passed Underwater Military Heritage Trail, released the following statement:
“The artificial reefs in Bay County are more than encrusted structures beneath the waves—they are a testament to the power of collaboration, conservation, and remembrance. It has been incredibly fulfilling to unite the Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation with Stephen Harman, a partnership that harmoniously blends purpose and passion. Stephen and I have spoken for years about the importance of memorializing loved ones; his own father included. Through his remarkable craftsmanship, Stephen is at the forefront of creating eternal tributes—both for our marine ecosystems and for those who have dedicated their lives to serving our country. Seeing our collective visions come to life makes this endeavor all the more meaningful. The Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation continues to be an inspiration by bringing communities together, strengthening support for our oceans, and honoring the resilience of our fallen heroes. These reefs tell stories, preserve memories, and offer a place of reflection. The inception of memorial reefs is a tribute to life after life. I couldn’t be more grateful to be part of something so impactful.” 

The partnership between Harman Metal Arts and the Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation is a vital step forward for the nonprofit. Not only will it keep manufacturing costs local, but it also allows for the development of innovative reef designs tailored to the needs of veterans, first responders, and their K-9 service dogs. “The design process is a meticulous one,” explains Theodorou. “We ensure that the reefs are heavy enough to withstand currents and storms. There is also a special interring area at the top, where we will place the cremated remains, and then it is capped with a VA/First Responder/K-9 marker. The articial reefs that Steve Harman is fabricating, for us, are different than the traditional cement, or limestone structures that most are accustomed to seeing. You’ll have to come by the Man in the Sea Museum to check it out.”

The Man in the Sea Museum will have one of the life-sized reefs displayed outside of the museum, beginning March 6th; and an interior exhibit, dedicated to the Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation, will highlight the nonprofit’s mission and progress. Steve Mulholland, Executive Director of the Man in the Sea Museum, shared his enthusiasm, “The Man in the Sea Museum is honored to work with the Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation. Keeping history alive includes honoring our great Veterans and First Responders by ensuring they have a proper, nal resting place that is worthy of their call to duty.”

The festivities on March 6th won't just end with a ribbon cutting and reef reveal. A friendly celebration will follow, featuring a silent auction with generous donations from BOTE, Grayton Beach, the Panama City Dive Center, and more. This event offers an opportunity for the community to support the foundation, and join in the celebration of our veterans, first responders and their K9s.

For more information on how you can volunteer, donate a reef, join the silent auction, or contribute to the foundation, please visit www.WarriorMemorialReefs.org , and also follow, like and share them on social media.