<\/a>Solomon Atkinson is buried beneath the symbol he gave years to, the SEAL Trident representing the naval special warfare community he was a part of, July 21, 2019, in Metlakatla, Alaska. (Courtesy photo | Laddie Shaw)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
A plaque signed by all three was among his most treasured mementos, said Shaw. On Saturday, days after Atkinson’s death, America celebrated the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, where two astronauts trained by Atkinson became the first humans to step foot on an extraplanetary body.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
During his remaining time in the service, he served both with SEAL Team 1, which he helped found, and with SEAL Team 2, based in Dam Neck, Virginia. Atkinson did three tours of Vietnam, earning a number of commendations, including the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, which can only be earned for heroic or meritorious service in a combat zone. He retired from the Navy in 1973 as a chief warrant officer, a specialist officer recognized for his deep experience in his job field.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Retiring from the Navy in 1973, Atkinson returned to Metlakatla.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“After 22 years of service, he spent the rest of his years in service to his community and veterans,” Shaw said. Atkinson would go on to champion veteran’s issues in Alaska, as well as serving two terms as mayor of Metlakatla, where he worked tirelessly to improve the lot of the town.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“He did a lot of work for the town,” Ridley said. “The roads, the houses, the water treatment, the power lines.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Even after his two terms as mayor, Ridley said, he kept working hard, staying on as a councilman so he could continue to be helpful.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Atkinson was also hugely active in the veterans community in Alaska, where the biggest percentage of veterans in America live, with more than 80,000 veterans, Shaw said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“He paved the way for helping the Native veteran community with VA home loans,” Shaw said. “The Native veterans were kind of set aside in that process.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
One of Atkinson’s abiding wishes was to be laid to final rest by SEALs, members of the community he helped form and shape. An honor guard of SEALs from SEAL Team 1, the team he founded, were present as pallbearers for the ceremony, along with a flotilla of 20 boats, said Shaw. He was laid to rest with eight sets of the SEALs unique service badge embedded in his casket, one from every SEAL present.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t