Rosamond Johnson Beach Day
Rosamond Johnson Beach Day
The Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Gulf Islands National Seashore, is proud to announce its annual Rosamond Johnson Beach Day. The ceremony will take place Saturday, May 6, 2017 at 10 am under the Star Pavilion on Johnson Beach, which is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
The ceremony will honor and remember the life of Army Private Rosamond Johnson Jr.
After enlisting in the Army at only 15, Johnson died in combat at age 17. Johnson rescued two injured soldiers and brought them to safety before he was fatally wounded while returning for a third comrade. He was the first Escambia County resident to die in the Korean War. Johnson posthumously received the Purple Heart on August 21, 1950.
During the time of Johnson’s death, Pensacola beaches were racially segregated. After the Korean Conflict, the county-owned recreational area was renamed to honor its fallen hero at the suggestion of the Sunset Riding Club, Inc. The club leased the land in 1950 from the county for the sole use of bathing, beach and recreational facilities for "colored citizens."
Although the lease was cancelled in 1956, the name Rosamond Johnson Beach remained. The area became part of Gulf Islands National Seashore May 8, 1973. A permanent monument in his honor was erected at Johnson Beach on June 10, 1996.
Every year, the Perdido Key community spends a day on Johnson Beach with its citizens and Johnson’s family, honoring his memory and sacrifices. A big Thank You to this year’s premier sponsor of Rosamond Johnson Beach Day: Pen Air Federal Credit Union.
We appreciate your support and involvement. For more information on this celebratory day, please go to VisitPerdido.com or our Visitors Information Center, located at 15500 Perdido Key Drive, Perdido Key, Fla.
Guest Speaker: Captain Frank Smith
Captain Frank Smith, U.S. Navy (Retired) graduated from Savannah State University in June 1976 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electronics Engineering Technology. He was also commissioned in June 1976 via Savannah State University’s Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Program and was designated an Aeronautical Engineering Duty Officer in 1979. He received a Master’s Degree in National Resource Strategy from the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy (formerly the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF)) in 1995 and graduated from the Defense Acquisition University Senior Acquisition Course Acquisition at Fort McNair in Washington, DC that same year. He was later designated as a level-three certified member of the Department of Defense Acquisition Professional Community where he provided oversight and negotiated contracting, acquisition and logistics support agreements with major commercial, government, and academic organizations nation-wide.
Operational tours include two tours onboard Aircraft Carrier USS John F. Kennedy in Norfolk, Virginia; Attack Squadron One Forty-Seven in Lemoore, California; Aircraft Carrier USS Constellation in San Diego, California; Training Squadron Eighty-Six, Pensacola, Florida; and Aircraft Carrier USS Coral Sea in Norfolk, Virginia;
Captain Smith’s acquisition tours include the Navy Supply Corps School; the National Defense University in Washington, DC; Defense Acquisition University, Washington, DC; The Pentagon, Washington, DC; and the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (formerly Naval Air Maintenance Training Group Headquarters) onboard Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida.
His awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (three awards) Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Expeditionary Medal (two awards), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, NATO Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (Four awards).
He recently served as an Executive level Manager for Global Business Solutions, Inc. in Pensacola Florida as Director of Business Development and Vice President of United States Army and Navy Programs. He manages significant Contracts supporting Cyber Security, Training Solutions, Systems Integration, Virtual Engineering, and other Information Technology Support Services to Department of Defense Agencies and Commercial Corporations. Also, he resides in Pensacola Florida where he supports the local community as Chairman for the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce.
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Date and Time
Saturday May 6, 2017
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT
Saturday, May 6th at 10 am
Location
Rosamond Johnson Beach, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Pensacola, FL 32507
Fees/Admission
Free
Website
Contact Information
850.492.4660
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