While a sailor exhaled the unmistakable notes of "Taps" aboard the USS Coast Guard cutter Mohawk Friday morning, two American flags, folded perfectly into military triangles, were presented in honor of two veterans connected to the Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, which now sits in 140 feet of water off Key West.

A dignified military memorial marked the end of a week of celebrations surrounding the successful Vandenberg scuttling as an artificial reef seven miles offshore.

As technical dive crews worked under water Friday to secure one of two satellite dishes that separated from their mounts during Wednesday's sinking -- the other will be left lying on the deck -- nearly 30 people gathered above the surface to honor the veterans who served aboard the ship.

Project organizers, city officials and Navy representatives gathered aboard the Mohawk to bestow military honors on Jack Steele Jr. and Thomas Watts.

Steele, who died in March 2001, served aboard the Vandenberg as instrumentation manager. His widow accepted Steele's flag as his son, Mike Steele, reminded everyone the ceremony honored everyone who served on the ship.

In an unlikely connection with the Vandenberg, Steele's other son currently is serving aboard the Vandenberg's replacement missile tracking ship in the Pacific Ocean.

Vandenberg project organizer Jeff Dey also honored Thomas Watts, a close family friend, who served as a Marine in Vietnam.

Archie Marconi sat in the audience Friday morning remembering his time aboard the Vandenberg. In the 1940s, the ship was owned by the Navy and was called the Harry Taylor.

Marconi was on his way to the Philippines during World War II when the ship turned around and headed back to New York Harbor. The United States had dropped two atomic bombs, and Japan had surrendered.

The war was over.

The Air Force later took control of the vessel and renamed it.

"The Vandenberg and the Harry Taylor connect several branches of the military, and it has connected many people from many walks of life," Dey said.

All veterans connected to the Vandenberg were remembered Friday morning with a performance of the national anthem by local musician Cory Heydon and a 21-gun salute. Representatives for Steele and Watts accepted the folded flags from a Navy sailor, "on behalf of a grateful nation and proud Navy."

mbolen@keysnews.com