The young Thai soccer team whose evacuation from a cave took their first steps in becoming novice Buddhist monks on Tuesday, in a ceremony intended to honor their rescuers.
Eleven of the 12 team members who were trapped in the cave system for more than three weeks attended an pre-ordination ceremony on Tuesday morning, before their initiation was completed at a second event in the afternoon.
The gesture was meant to honor Lt. Cmdr. Saman Kunan, a former Thai Navy SEAL who died during the cave rescue operation on July 6.
One of their teammates, Adul Sam-on, is a Christian and instead attended a local church to perform a separate ceremony.
The others will begin their week-long stint as Buddhist novices from Wednesday morning, when they will have their heads shaved. The practice is considered a high honor in Thailand.
They will leave the monastery and return to civilian life on August 3.
