LITTLETON, Colo. -- Littleton is honoring one of its own -- a Navy SEAL who died in the war on terror.

On Monday afternoon, the Littleton Boulevard Street sign will be changed to Danny Dietz Drive. Dietz was part of an elite commando team conducting counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan. The team disappeared in June 2005. Dietz and another Navy SEAL were found a week later. They died in a fierce gunbattle with Al-Qaida leaders.

A chopper trying to rescue Dietz's team went down, killing all 16 people on board.

Dietz's family traveled to Washington, D.C., last week to accept the Navy Cross -- the second-highest award in the Navy -- in his memory. The 25-year-old is buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

His father, mother and sister said they are filled with pride for the person Danny was.

"His goal in life was to be a Navy SEAL. And when he was growing up, he had kind of an attitude. Danny was very intelligent, I tell you. He had two points above a genius IQ. So actually, he was dangerous. Until we got him directed, we had a challenge. And once he found out what he wanted to do, there was nothing that was going to stop him. And he was climbing the ladder so high. I just wish that he would've, could've continued with his potential," said Danny Dietz Sr.

Dietz graduated from Heritage High School in 1999 and was on the football team his senior year. Teachers recalled that had already set his sights on becoming a SEAL then.

"He was in the weight room a lot and worked hard to become an excellent swimmer, knowing that was a skill critical to his future success," school district spokeswoman Diane Leiker had said in a statement.

The new street signs are temporary and will be taken down within 10 days.

The Dietz family is raising money for the memorial statue of Danny that is going to be placed in the park in Littleton. Donations can be made to the Navy SEAL Danny Dietz Memorial Fund at any Wells Fargo bank.

Checks can be made to the Navy SEAL Danny Dietz Memorial Fund and mailed to: Cheers4Troops Attn. Cindy Dietz, P.O. Box 27203, Denver, CO 80227.