USS Intrepid with Gemini III at recovery, 1965-Atlantic Ocean (NASA)
The USS intrepid ( CV-11) had visited Mayport on several occasions in the 1950’s and 1960s. It was a “renowned Essex-class aircraft carried commissioned in 1964”. It served in WWII, the Cold War and the Vietnam War.The ship was chosen to gather up “Mollie Brown”, the Gemini space craft capsule and did so with a successful recovery on March 25, 1965.
Intrepid ship
The ship was used to recover the capsule flown by Virgil “Gus” Grissom and John W. Young. It was the first mission where the crew would maneuvre the space craft and considered a “human spaceflight”. The mission lasted just short of fiver hours. The capsule landed in the Atlantic Ocean on March 3, 1965. It was brought to Mayport. The astronauts both became seasick and were picked up by helicopter and taken to the Intrepid for a complete physical check. They were found in “good condition”.
Capsule, Gemini III.(NASA. gov)
The ship was decommissioned in 1974 and since 1982 has been berthed in New York City as an air and space museum. In 1986 it was designated as a National Historic Landmark. As one of the headings on the museum website, if you visit you can “Let your imagination soar”. On the flight deck are propeller planes used in WWII, fighter jets used in Vietnam, and helicopters “that recovered NASA astronauts in 1964 right here on Jacksonville’s coast at Mayport.
Crew flown by helicopter to Intrepid (NASA)
To commemorate this important mission, the United States Mint designed gold-plated, sterling silver 1-inch medallions of which the crew carried into space to later give friends and family members.
Medallions by U. S. Mint (U.S. Mint)
At the museum there are educational resources, exhibitions, collections, a space shuttle pavilion, and many other historic preservations of importance.
Grissom and Young (NASA)
The Gemini III capsule is now at the Grissom Memorial State Park near Mitchell, Indiana which is Grissom’s hometown.
See you tomorrow,
Sources: Google AI Overview, U. S. Carriers . Net, Intrepid Museum, U. S Naval Institute, NASA.gov, Wikipedia, USCG, Vaughan Publishing, Nannette V. Ramey.
So,I heard that Mikhail Gorbachev would be interviewed in Jacksonville, by Ronald Reagan’s son, Michael at the University of North Florida on October 2, 2003. This was historic and my hope was to go and photograph this important event.
Mikhail Gorbachev (Wikipedia)
Mikhail Gorbachev was the former President of Russia, a Soviet politician who lead the Soviet Union from 1985 until the country dissolved in 1991. He was head of state in 1988 and “adhered to Marxism-Leninism” but because of President Ronald Reagan, Gorbachev began leaning more towards restructuring, cooperation, trust and a shared sense of commitment on the world stage.
Gorbachev joined the son of Ronald Reagan in Duval County for this event. Michael who had a conservative talk program, “The Mike Reagan Talk Show” set up a meeting with the former Russian President at the University of North Florida here in Jacksonville. The focus was about the changing world and titled, “A New Time, A New Beginning: An Interview with Mikhail Gorbachev. It was sponsored by the Ponte Vedra Federation of Republican Women’s Club and the International Foreign Institute.
Gorbachev had been awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for his role in helping to the end the Cold War. He was known for working with Ronald Reagan for better Soviet relations with the U.S. during his term. According to many, he focussed on finding solutions for peace in the international arena.
While Ronald Reagan was no-nonsense about his relationship with this Soviet leader, he lead the way to make positive changes. Reagan was about moving from “confrontation to collaboration.” The Reagan’s even hosted the USSR leader at their ranch in California in 1992.
The President of the United States of America indicated that early on there was a “wariness about the two being able to work together but it was something that needed to be considered.” Reagan once said to reports in Moscow, though “I think, frankly, (that) President Gorbachev and I discovered a sort of a bond, a friendship between us that we thought could become such a bond between all people.”
Being at this incredible event at UNF was a highlight. It was obvious that the presence of many international powerhouses would be there and involved but to see and witness it….
We met in the Lazzara Performance Hall, at the Fine Arts Center at the University of North Florida. The camera used for me was a heavy 35 mm film camera with a battery pack and a professional flash. We entered all together as a group of media and photographers. Behind Gorbechev and other dignitaries, there was a man with a huge video camera on his shoulder. He was videoing everything from behind them and facing the audience and media group.
Those heading up the event allowed the media to photograph as things were getting started. The thing I remember most about this event was that the floors were wooden and I lost a handle on my heavy Nikon D-100 camera. It went crashing to the floor. The sound was deafening. It sounded like a shot! I must have turned 10 shades of red as I bent down to pick up the camera. It was quite a fracas. When I looked up everyone on stage and in the audience were staring at me. Gasp! The videographer had gotten quite close too. I’m just glad he didn’t have a gun!
I looked online to see if there was a video and if they edited out the camera drop. The link went no where.
See you tomorrow,
Sources: University of North Florida, Ponte Vedra Federation of Republican Women’s Club and the International Foreign Institute. Ponte Vedra Women’s Club, Photo-Wikipedia, Google Search, Vaughan Publishing, Nannette V. Ramey.
Category: Government, History, People | Comments Off on Russian President, Gorbachev in Jacksonville
Michelle Cook’s father was a Navy veteran and stationed at Jacksonville’s Cecil Field Naval Air Station in the 1980’s. She began her career in the Jacksonville Sheriff’s office being a part of the force until retiring as a 3-star Director. As Director of Patrol and Enforcement she worked with first responders, community relations, special events, collective bargaining, promoting laws and managing personnel.
The White House
In 2017, she went on to be the Chief of Police for the Atlantic Beach department handling a 6-million budget and lead to improve the crime rate as well and community morale.
In 2020, Sheriff Cook began a campaign for becoming the Clay County Sheriff and was sworn in on September 1 of that year. Her bio from the Clay County department states: “Sheriff Cook has built a reputation of being a firm, yet compassionate law enforcement leader whose integrity and genuine management style bring respect not only from her work family but also the community she serves.”
The 2006 theme for National Women’s History this year was “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future”. Sheriff Cook has obviously done this and for her resilience, President Trump and the First Lady, Melania honored her along with others at The White House for their achievements.
When speaking at the White House and with a glance at President Trump, she said: “When you have a President (in the White House) saying that we will have law and order in our nation. That sets the tone. That sets the expectation.”
Sheriff Cook went on to say: “ It is an honor to serve my community with you (President Trump) at the top, sir”. In closing, she said: “God bless our first responders, God bless bless our military, God bless our President and God bless the United States of America”. Chants followed from the crowd.
It was a good day for Duval and Clay County, Florida,
See you tomorrow,
Sources: The White House, Claysheriff .com, National Sheriff’s Association, You Tube, Vaughan Publishing, Nannette V. Ramey.
As would be expected when I heard that the 5th President of the United State’s son, Jame Monroe had once lived in Jacksonville, I had to find some evidence. It has always been of interest to me to know famous people who have graced our city. Elvis Presley never lived in Jacksonville, but he stayed often in a home in the Murray Hill area. The esteemed preacher and evangelist, Billy Graham spent many occasions in Jacksonville as he preached the Gospel of Christ and even had his doctors here at the Mayo hospital. I photographed him in the once-called “Gator Bowl” and saw him on our Jacksonville newscasts visiting places in our city. Rosa Parks came to Jacksonville on at least two occasions where I met her and she invited me to sit beside her and tell how I broke my arm which was in a cast at that time. There have been many well known visitors who have spent time in our fair city and so to read that a former president’s son had actually spent most of his life here, it was certainly worth detailing.
After reading through a number of stories online, I set out first to find his grave which was found in a cemetery on the westside of the city. Sandy Strickland, a former writer of the Florida Times Union newspaper had written an article “Gravely Hill is a Cemetery within a Cemetery”. Using that as the basic information, “Maps”, provided the address and a trip to the old cemetery dating back to at least the 1830’s was found literally inside the fence of Riverside Memorial Cemetery’s chainlink fence. The sign reads “Gravely Hill Cemetery Historical Landmark, NOTICE Any alterations or work performed on these premises must have authorization by M. Weeks 904-268-1934”. Another sign indicated the property was being maintained by the City of Jacksonville. I learned that the 200 acres of Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery had built its cemetery around the Gravely Hill cemetery. Sandy Strickland named her article precisely that.
Walking through the lawn-cut grounds, I read the names on the stones such as Price, Hogan, Bramlitt, Pacetti, Lauramore, Hills, and of course, there was the grave of a James Monroe flanked by an American flag. On the tomb stone there is no birthdate but only his day of passing.
According to online information from Ann Parkinson, the Concordia Sentinel, October 30, 2009 has him listed as the “oldest Confederate veteran of the American Civil War” at 133 years, 11 months, 24 days at death”. , Monroe says he was born on the 4th of July in 1925. That would have made him 133 years upon his death in June of 1949. Tim Gilmore, a Jacksonville enthusiast wrote in his article “If James Edward Monroe were 133 years old when he died, then he was 22 when, in 1837, Steven Eubanks stated in his will that he wished to be buried beside “the grave of my departed mother in the burial ground on my plantation called Gravely Hill.”
According to sources such as Gilmore, James Edward Monroe was a wanderer and could have been found removed by the police for squatting in the Riverside area during his time in this city.
After reading and researching for a time, there is no real evidence to indicate that J. E. Monroe lived from 1815-1949 except that its on actual official records and on a stone in Gravely Hill. According to a 1926 Associated Press article, he was a major in the military, fought under the command of General Robert E. Lee and there is a post card with the words “Major Edward Monroe youngest son of President James Monroe, 110 years old July 4, 1925. Jacksonville, Florida. ( Find a Grave, James Monroe photos)
Photos from the Find a Grave site: Jacksonville Journal photo, a post card, Pres. James Monroe, Elizabeth, the President’s mother (which is said the Jacksonville Monroe has among his belongings.)
Monroe, The 5th President of the United States is listed as being born April 28, 1758 and died July 4, 1831. He was known as a statesman, lawyer, diplomat, President from 1817-1825, and the last of the Founding Fathers. According to White House records, he and Elizabeth Kortright had three children: Eliza(1786), James (1799) and Maria ( 1802). There is no mention of a James Edward. So, did he live to be 133? Was he the youngest son of the 5th President of the United States?
See you tomorrow,
Nan
Sources: Sandy Strickland , “Gravely Hill is a Cemetery within a Cemetery, The Florida Times UnionMarch 12, 2018,). Tim Gilmore,Gravely Hill Plantation and Graveyard, , December 7, 2018., Find a Grave photos, Find a Grave. Com, James Monroe, White House . Gov.
This issue is not a partisan issue. Lives are truly at stake no matter the party line. It is really time for the Church of Christ to step in and be a part of the help in this serious issue of souls. The problem is more than being physically without a home, food and a place to lay their head. It is truly about salvation.
Leonardo da Vinci produced The Last Supper between 1495 and 1498, which is the most well-known religious painting. Jesus taught his disciples to go forth and teach the Gospel.
The struggle of the homeless is real. In most cases, their bodies rage for need of the drug of their choice. This rage drives them to their homelessness. They need help to get off of drugs, opportunities to work, places they can go for mental health, clothes, showering, transportation, and a great many other things. There is only ONE solution and that is God, who has power over every stronghold. Homelessness and what gets them there is a serious stronghold.
Permission was given to take this photo of a homeless woman who has been on the streets for about a year.This photo was taken about 8:30 am. It had rained heavily during the night.
Jacksonville’s Mayor Donna Deegan said, “In every community conversation I’ve been to over the past year, one of the things I heard most often was the need to address homelessness. With that feedback in mind, our 12-point plan makes progress on this significant issue and complies with HB 1365. Our goal is to build safer neighborhoods and make homelessness a rare, brief, one-time occurrence in a person’s life.”
A homeless man took me in the neighborhood camp to see this make-shift home.
The Church has THE answer to solve this problem. No “free” homes, “free food”, “free anything” will solve this issue. It is a matter of the heart and the Church has the answer to deal with the heart. “Speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, God said, “My wayward children . . . come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts” . God also warned, “Your wickedness will bring its own punishment. Your turning from me will shame you. (Jeremiah 3:22 NLT- Copied)
Jesus said that the poor would always be with us but that there are blessing when any of us give even a cup of water in Jesus name. The church could and would really make an impact in this up and coming effort to deal with this serious issue.
If every church in Jacksonville would take on simply one aspect to help the homeless in their area of town, great inroads could be made to saving the lives of so many. Please pray that the Church will take on this task. It is not an easy task but it is a necessary one.
Things the Church could do and with every single mission, offer the Gospel of Christ which is able to save:
Church Ministries
Bible Lessons, Church Services, Clothes Closets, Food Pantries, Job Opportunities, Shower Stations, Skill Training. ( With every single dealing with the homeless the Gospel must be shared. That is what saves.That is what changes a soul.)
“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. “Proverbs 19:17
“If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother” Deut 15:7
“He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.” Prof 14:31
“He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.” Prov. 28:7
Jacksonville has had its share of politicians. Noble A. Hull settled in Jacksonville, Florida in the latter 1860’s and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery. In his 50’s he served as the 6th Lieutenant Governor of Florida and as a member of the Florida House of Representatives.
Noble A. Hull
Hull was born on March 11, 1827 according to Find A Grave. He was born in Little York Georgia on a plantation and attended schools in the nearby area. By 1845 he was buying and selling general store items and developing a business sense.
During that time Columbia County was growing and out of the growth came Suwannee County where in 1858 Hull became the first sheriff. He later served in the Florida House of Representatives during the Civil war years of 1860-1861. During this time period he married Eleanor C. Sturdivant and they had had one daughter. It was his time during the Civil War that brought Noble to Jacksonville, Florida. He served as captain of Company H, the first Florida calvary.
After the Civl War Hull became lieutenant governor of Florida in 1877 and was elected to the U. S. House of Representative in 1879. This election was not without conflict as his opponent contested the election and according to Wikipedia “succeeded him in 1881”.
Following his term in Congress, Noble served as assistant postmaster in Jacksonville, Florida and clerk of court from 1888-1900.
Democrat, Noble A. Hull died in Jacksonville, Florida on January 28, 1907. He is buried next to his wife, Eleanor in Evergreen Cemetery off of Main Street.
See you tomorrow,
Nan
Sources: Findagrave, Wikipedia, Photo: Bill Price FB grab.
Category: Government, History, Military | Comments Off on Noble Hull, Politician Dies in Jacksonville, Florida
Serving two tours in the Middle East is no small feat. On a day that the first woman mayor was sworn in at the Jacoby Center in Jacksonville, Florida, I met and talked with another woman trailblazer, Commander, Toshiko Moultrie of Duval County who did just that. She was a part of two tours; Operation Enduring Freedom and the war with Iraq while serving in the Army.
Toshiko Moultrie served in the U.S. Army (Photo: Ramey)
According to the Navy Military site, Operation Enduring Freedom “officially began 7 October 2001 with American and British bombing strikes against al-Qaeda and Taliban forces in Afghanistan. Initially, the Taliban was removed from power and al-Qaeda was seriously crippled, but forces continually dealt with a stubborn Taliban insurgency, infrastructure rebuilding and corruption among the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, and Afghan Border Police.” This campaign was in “response to the September 11, 2002 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people” in New York City.
Not only did Moultrie serve in Afghanistan but she also served in Iraq. Based on information from several sources including Wikipedia, “The United States officially declared its combat role in Iraq over on 31 August 2010, although several thousand troops remained in the country until all American troops were withdrawn from Iraq by December 2011; meanwhile, American troops also engaged in combat with Iraqi insurgents. In June 2014, however, US forces returned to Iraq due to an escalation of instability in the region, and in June 2015, the number of American ground troops totaled 3,550. Between December 2011 and June 2014, Department of Defense officials estimated that there were 200 to 300 personnel based at the US embassy in Baghdad.
Moultrie was in the military from February 27, 1987 until her retirement on January 31, 2023.
Her service has not stopped even yet as she serves at her local American Legion post # 197. The American Legion is known for its service to veterans and their families. It provides assistance with rehabilitation, PTSD concerns, VA services, family relocations, housing and other military related needs. Post # 197 also partners with Blue Cross Blue Shield, The Mayo Clinic and other businesses willing to assist those in the military.
Honors to her and those who have been willing to serve.
The first female mayor of Jacksonville was sworn in on July 1 ,2023. Donna Hazouri Deegan was born in Jacksonville, Florida on February 28, 1961. She became the first woman to be elected as mayor of the Bold New City of the South on July 1, 2023.
Judge Swears in first Female Mayor Donna Deegan (Photo- Ramey)
Jacksonville is believed to have been petitioned to become a city on June 15, 1822 according to city records. Documents and information are sparce regarding the early history of the city and certainly many papers were lost in the Great Jacksonville Fire of 1901. What information has been gathered has come from newspapers and other papers not affected by the fire.
The first mayor of Jacksonville was William Mills. He began his term in 1832. During the Civil War there was no mayoral leadership due to the military taking command. In the early years of Jacksonville’s existence it had small towns within a town. There was Brooklyn, East Jacksonville, Fairfield, LaVilla, Riverside, Springfield and more…. Each had leadership of its own until in 1887 when a new charter gathered areas together with one mayor serving two terms.
Donna Deegan speaks to Inaugural crowd (Photo-Ramey)
Over these some 200 years, only men have served as Mayor until this year when Donna Deegan was elected on May 16, 2023. At her swearing-in on July 1, 2023, she used her cousin, Tommy Hazoui’s Bible marking the first time a woman would hold the office of Mayor for Jacksonville, Florida. Tommy Hazouri, her cousin had served as Mayor from 1987-1991. He too was a Democrat.
The New Mission
The Deegan Administration will be guided by the principle that every person should have a voice in City Hall and a seat at the table. Ourculture will be an inclusive one where we encourage collaboration between leaders from all walks of life and who look like Jacksonville. Transparency, accountability, and innovation will be at the center of our decisions as we build a bridge to the next generation and industries of the future. These values will guide the next chapter in Jacksonville’s history and the culture that we will strive to create.
Mayor Deegan is committed to a comprehensive review of opportunities and challenges facing Jacksonville and identifying policy solutions that give every person the opportunity to have a good quality of life. To fulfil that pledge, the transition team is forming a series of policy and outreach committees charged with developing plans that move forward Mayor Deegan’s vision of a healthy, safe, resilient, inclusive, and innovative city that works for all of us.
Focus Areas
Infrastructure
Health
Economy
Public Safety
Arts, Culture, and Entertainment
Constituency and Community Outreach
Military and Veteran Affairs
The race was a divided race however, Deegan has asked for the city to come together in unity so as to have the children of Jacksonville live in a city that “fully see’s them” and where they can reach their “full potential”.
In her Inauguration speech, she said that “love won” in this election and encouraged those listening to help her complete the task of growing the city to “rise”.
Deegan’s inauguration was complete with calling on God for help, having set goals to meet and to look forward to a new day. We can only judge a person by their work, decisions and how they govern. Yes, “It is a New Day” in Jacksonville, Florida.
See you tomorrow,
Nan
Category: Government, History | Comments Off on First Female Mayor of Jacksonville Vows New Day…
Donna Deegan, according to wide-spread reports was born on Jacksonville’s Southside, graduating from Bishop Kenny High School. She went on to graduate from Florida State University in 1984. Her degree was in communications. She became an anchor at WTXL in Tallahassee, Florida, served at WTVX in Fort Pierce and upon returning to Jacksonville was an anchor at WTLV.
Donna Deegan ( Wikipedia photo)
In 1999 she began a long-term fight with cancer with it reoccurring three times. She is the founder of The Donna Foundation which serves a multitude of causes for helping with the care of women with cancer and the cause and cure of the disease.
In 2020, she ran for congress losing to Republican, John Rutherford and in 2023, she ran against Republican Daniel Davis to win the mayor’s race in Jacksonville, Florida. She is the first woman to win this position and will be sworn in on July 1, 2023.
See you tomorrow,
Nan
Category: Government, People | Comments Off on Donna Deegan To Serve as Jacksonville’s First Woman Mayor
According to the Royal. Uk website, Buckingham Palace has “served as the official London residence of the UK’s sovereigns since 1837”. It was built in our around 1703 but has served the Royals for many years as the “Queen’s House” where she and dignitaries from all over the world meet. I guess this year, it may become the “King’s House” as King Charles III will be crowned.
Buckingham Palace, Royal Photo
In the late 1800’s in the Jacksonville, Florida area, Osceola, the Seminole Indian leader was captured near St. Augustine and taken to the Fort. Also happening in and around 1837 was the formation of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, also known as Bethel.
Just above Jacksonville, on Amelia at that time the lighthouse, Florida’s oldest began guiding ships along the shoreline. State Supreme Court Justice Jamie Grosshans spoke at the River Club in 2021 and explained that those forming our state were putting together the Florida Constitution was written and adopted by 1838.
There are no buildings in and around Jacksonville that compare to the massive Buckingham Palace with its 775 rooms and yet we have our own great administrative building such as the St. James. It began as the St. James hotel in 1869 and was burned in the Great Fire of Jacksonville in 1901. It was rebuilt after the fire and reopened in 1912. It was one of the largest buildings at that time. According to Wikipedia, the St. James hotel could lodge some 500 guests and had a laundry area, barbershop, telegraph desk and place for concerts.
St James Hotel turned Jacksonville City Hall(Photo- Fl Memory)
The 117 West Duval Street place was purchased by the City of Jacksonville, Florida in 1993, remodelled it and reopened in1997. Today it serves as the Jacksonville City Hall.
There are no coronations there and yet this month in our city, we will elect a Mayor whose office will use our St. James Building. This month in London there will be a coronation of the King of England where he will continue to use Buckingham Palace as a residence and place to bring together leaders of the world.
I’ll take some pics while I’m there during this event and share them when I return.
See you tomorrow,
Nan
Sources: Jaxdailyrecord . Com, Wikipedia, Personal visit to the both sites.
