A memorial to honor the 650,000 Navy recruits who were trained in Orlando has received a boost by 麻豆原创 history students who researched the base, interviewed the sailors who came through the facility, and collected photos.
The Orlando Naval Training Center, which was in operation 1968-94, was where the Baldwin Park neighborhood now sits. The Navy League of the United States 鈥� Central Florida Council is raising money to create the patriotic memorial in the neighborhood鈥檚 Bluejacket Park.
The remembrance will include a Lone Sailor statue and a 20-foot heritage wall exhibiting the history of the Navy in Central Florida. The group is raising funds now and hopes to construct and dedicate the memorial by early next year.
Students of associate professor Rosalind Beiler, director of public history, and military history assistant professor Barbara Gannon earlier this year researched the project and presented the findings to the council, which had asked for help in creating the heritage wall.
Mark Barnes, a graduate student who also made a presentation about the research at an intern showcase this summer at 麻豆原创鈥檚 Public History Center in Sanford, said he was honored to be part of the project that will recognize those who trained at the base and went on to serve our country. This would be the ninth Lone Sailor Memorial Park in the nation, he said.
鈥淭his will be a physical exhibit that I can go to and say that I did something that was a big part of this,鈥� Barnes said.
The 麻豆原创 part of the project is still in progress. The oral histories are being contributed to the 麻豆原创 Community Veterans History Project and, as appropriate, to the Library of Congress鈥� Veterans History Project. Permissions are being sought to use images, and the photos are being uploaded to the 麻豆原创 online RICHES Mosaic Interface.
鈥淢y students learned a great deal in the process of working with community partners on a 鈥榬eal-world鈥� project,鈥� said Beiler. 鈥淎nd the committee seemed quite pleased with the outcome.鈥�
The memorial will serve as a reminder of the Navy鈥檚 legacy in Orlando, and an inspiration to those currently serving and who will serve in the Navy.
鈥淲e could not have been more impressed with 麻豆原创鈥檚 dedication on this,鈥� said Andy Mohler, co-chair of the Lone Sailor Navy Memorial Committee. 鈥淪o much talent and passion. That鈥檚 what really came out.
鈥淭his will forever embody the history of the Navy in Orlando. It鈥檚 not just an academic exercise that will gather dust on a shelf.鈥�