Army regulars during the Civil War against Confederate troops at Pascagoula, Mississippi in April 1863. The 2nd Regiment of the Louisiana Native Guard was stationed at Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island (now part of Gulf Islands National Seashore) and they launched the first engagement by Black U.S. But before the 54th Massachusetts, the very first black Union troops – known as Louisiana Native Guard - were raised after New Orleans fell to the Union in 1862. Many are familiar with the 54th Massachusetts regiment during the Civil War, made famous by the movie “Glory” with Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington.The site known as Chalmette Battlefield is now part of our National Park system. Andrew Jackson incorporated two battalions of Free Men of Color into the fray, and the overwhelming American victory began when the British Commanding General was shot – by one of these free black troops. The War of 1812 with the British brought the fight nearby at the Battle of New Orleans.The sites at Lexington, Concord, and Yorktown are now part of our National Park system. At least 5,000 African Americans fought for our new nation during the Revolutionary War, and when the British finally surrendered to George Washington at Yorktown in 1781, about ¼ of the American Army was black. When the Minutemen gathered at Lexington and Concord in April 1775 for that “shot heard round the world,” African Americans were fighting along-side other Patriots.Many are not aware that African Americans have participated in every single war fought by or within the United States. Rosamond actually comes from a long line of African Americans who served their country in time of war, not necessarily for the freedoms they were afforded back home, but for the promise of that freedom and those rights that our nation aspires to fulfill. This is even more notable when you realize that this beach that is named after him was one of the few beaches at that time where he and his family and other African Americans could go. The story of Rosamond Johnson is compelling: getting permission from his parents at age 15 so he could serve his country in the military his heroic acts during the Korean War to save his fellow soldiers while under fire, and his ultimate sacrifice, giving his life for his country. Johnson and the rest of the Johnson family for keeping the memory of Rosamond alive to Joseph Herring, a recently retired employee of Gulf Islands National Seashore who made it his personal mission to share the story of Rosamond Johnson and the history of Johnson Beach and to the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce, Johnson Beach Society, and Tina Morrison, Alison Davenport and others with the Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce who have worked so hard to make this event happen. On behalf of the National Park Service, I would like to welcome you here today to Rosamond Johnson Beach within the Perdido Key Area of Gulf Islands National Seashore.įirst I would like to extend my thanks – to Mrs. This is payable on-line at Johnson Beach Pensacola, FL Nation Park Service Gulf Island National Seashore Johnson Beach A National Historical Site Name after the first Korean War Veteran to Die from Escambia County, and one who deserve an Medal of Honor based on the history.ĭan Brown Park Superintendent (GUIS) Gulf Island National Seashore FL & MS Rosamond Johnson Memorial May 3, 2014 The completed application and listed additional documentation may be emailed to the park's business administor, Richard Devenney, at e-mail us or it can be mailed to the address below.Īdditionally, a CUA application fee of $100 is due at the time of application. Interested parties should complete the application below. In accordance with Okaloosa County Ordinance 18-19 and 20-03 park service regulations, Commercial Use Authorizations and Okaloosa County, licenses must be obtained prior to operating a business at Crab Island. Due to the unique nature of Crab Island being located in national seashore waters over state-held submerged waters, commercial operations require authorization from the local government as well as the park service. In July 2018 and updated with County Ordinance 20-03, Okaloosa County passed Ordinance 1819, authorizing commercial operations in the area under certain conditions. During the summer recreation season, hundreds of boaters congregate daily at the island. Crab Island is a large submerged sandbar within Gulf Islands National Seashore, located north of the Destin Bridge in Choctawhatchee Bay.
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