April 2019
Support for School Children The wife of a deployed US Naval officer contacted us asking for help for the Patriot Oaks Elementary School in Jacksonville that was having a Military Child Appreciation event on the 6th to honor children of military families. The event began with a breakfast and a gift for each child and recognition of their sacrifices. She asked that we provide 150 hand-held American flags for the children to carry in a parade around their school campus after breakfast. The wife serves in the school’s Parent Teachers Organization and was instrumental in planning and organizing the event. We were able to order the flags online and have them delivered with a few days to spare. We received a very heart-warming note of thanks from her on behalf of the school and PTO. We really do believe in our mission “…to enhance the morale of active duty personnel and their families”.
Mixer at River and Post On April 11th we hosted a mixer for members and guests at the Rooftop Lounge of the River and Post Restaurant. The 9th floor venue offered a great view of the beautiful St Johns River. Mixers are intended to not only entertain and inform our members, but offer a recruiting opportunity for new members, so bring your friends!
Finding the Lost French Fleet Lunch and an informative presentation were enjoyed by over 40 members and guests at the NAS Jax Officers Club on the 28th. Guest speaker Chuck Meide, Lead Marine Archaeologist for the St Augustine Lighthouse and Museum presented the “Discovery of the Lost French Fleet” that was lost in a storm off the Florida coast in September 1565. The French fleet was attacked by the Spanish, at Fort Caroline in what is now Jacksonville. As the French fleet pursued the Spanish southward, they were caught in a hurricane, blown south and sank. The ships lay undiscovered for over 450 years until recently. Quite an interesting piece of First Coast maritime history.
Programs Former council President JB Renninger is serving as VP Programs and is aggressively filling our program calendar with interesting and fun events. We are planning several “hands-on” tours, luncheons, dinners, mixers, and other fun events, so watch your email for invitations. The next few months will be very busy with several events already scheduled, including a tour of the Blount Island Marine Corps facility, and a weekend in Pensacola.
Your membership, participation and support of our council is highly valued, and we urge you to continue your membership and invite your friends, relatives and colleagues to join.
Let’s have fun this year, while we grow our council!
Bill Cousins President