06/07/2026
An interesting origins brief on the Seabee statue,
In 1942, shortly after the formation of the Seabees, Admiral Ben Moreell wanted a distinctive emblem for the newly created Naval Construction Battalions. The logo was designed by Rhode Island artist and draftsman Frank J. Iafrate while he was assigned to the Naval Construction Battalion Center at Davisville, Rhode Island, the famous Fighting Bee statue. and logo depicts a bee wearing a sailor cap and carrying a wrench, hammer, and machine gun, symbolizing the Seabee motto: "We Build, We Fight."
The bee was chosen because, although small, it is industrious, hardworking, and capable of defending itself—qualities that reflected the mission envisioned by Ben Moreell, the "Father of the Seabees."
The Davisville Fighting Bee Statue
The large Fighting Bee statue at the Seabee Museum & Memorial Park was constructed in 1971 by Seabees of the 21st Naval Construction Regiment. It was built to honor Admiral Moreell during his visit to Davisville for the 29th Seabee Ball. Seabees reportedly worked 10–12 hours a day for three weeks to fabricate the statue from steel.
After the closure of the Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center in 1994, the statue remained in the area and was later moved to the museum grounds in 1999, where it stands today. It has undergone several restorations, including a major repainting overseen by Frank Iafrate himself before his death in 2000.
Symbolism of the Statue
The Fighting Bee's tools and weapons represent the dual mission of the Seabees:
Hammer and wrench — construction and engineering skills
Machine gun — combat readiness
Sailor's cap — naval service
Wings — mobility and expeditionary capability
The statue embodies the Seabee ethos of "Can Do" and "We Build, We Fight."
A point of pride for Rhode Island Seabees is that both the original logo and the most famous statue trace their roots to Davisville, even the pontoon it sits on was designed tested and massbproduced for deployment around the world with Seabees, all created at the birthplace and the Original home of the Seabees,
Today, Fighting Bee statues can be found at several Seabee memorials and installations, but the Davisville statue is considered one of the most historic because it stands on the hallowed grounds of the birthplace of the Seabees.
