US SEALs - Badges Attached To Coffin

[BWEF]

Does anyone know more about a US Navy SEALs tradition of fixing their "trident" badges to the coffin of a fallen comrade?

I came across an article on the funeral of Michael A. Monsoor in San Diego. Petty Officer Monsoor was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor when he threw himself on top of an Iraqi grenade in order to save his comrades.

"During the service, as Monsoor's coffin was taken from the hearse to the gravesite, Navy SEALs lined up in two columns. As the coffin passed, video shows each SEAL slapping down the gold Trident from his uniform and deeply embedding it in Monsoor's wooden coffin".

Here is the full article, complete with photo of the tridents embedded in the coffin lid:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,376243,00.html

[tynesideirish]

First time I've heard of this. Could be spontanious but probably not. One thing's certain, if it wasn't tradition before then it will be from now-on. RIP brave Sailor.