FLORIDA SENATE: TODAY IS SIR LANCELOT JONES DAY IN BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK (Pic. 1) Sir Lancelot Jones (r) sold the island his family bought in Biscayne in the 1890s to the National Park A chance conversation with photographer and Homestead Vice Mayor Stephen Shelley revealed incredible news. (Pic. 2) Service in the1970s, thus protecting the area from development. (Pic. 3) Hundreds of boaters who participate in the Regatta today just outside the boundaries of Biscayne National Park will learn that they owe the privilege to Sir Lancelot Jones. What is the color of a day when you suddenly realize your dream has come true? And not in the way you expected? It is a rush of blood, a thundering in the ears, and a growing appreciation of how desires can build and take on a life of their own. I had this experience last Saturday when, exhibiting at the Main Street Book Fair in Homestead, I walked over to the booth beside us to look at the fantastic images on display. I was stunned by the scenes the young photographer had captured, including a South Florida Big Cypress landscape that is the most evocative, perfect image of a sunrise Ive ever seen. The bio on the table revealed that the young artist is also an attorney, the Vice Mayor of Homestead and a new dad. Seeing his fascination for the national parks clearly. I mentioned how impressed I was with a nearby sign announcing the free trolley program from Homestead to Everglades National Park that was started last year. I mentioned that I serve on the board of the National Parks Conservation Association whose Sun Coast Office had been instrumental in getting this connection to the park. He said he was part of that effort then asked, Whats your name? When I told him he said Yes, we tried to reach you about the Jones story in Biscayne... The Jones story? I repeated in a daze. Since Frank and I first learned about the Jones family in the 1990s it has become part of our mission to publicize it and help bring attention to the invaluable contribution they made that resulted in our having the park today. Id been somewhat aggrieved that more was not being done to publicize this world-class inspiring story. And thats when the Vice Mayor dropped the bomb on me. Yes, he said. The Florida Senate has declared next Monday, October 13 as the first Sir Lancelot Jones in the park. NPCAs Jackie Crucet spearheaded the effort and we brought members of Mahogany Youth Fishing Club to meet with their representatives and persuade them to honor Sir Lancelot. The young people simultaneously got to participate in how their government works. We nearly got it through the Florida House as well so well have to try again next year as we want it to be a permanent recognition . . Whoa! He said they chose Columbus Day for the honor because its the day of the famed Regatta, and they want participants to know we might not have Biscayne National Park - the largest marine park in the continental US - were it not for the conservation-minded Sir Lancelot. Well, who says you have to die to go to heaven? Because Im in heaven right now today celebrating this amazing occasion. Heres to Sir Lancelot Jones, the pioneering Jones family, and to the efforts of all human beings who have the prescience to set aside some of our natural bounty for the benefit of this and future generations. Speaking of prescience, KUDOS to our President Barack Obama who used the authority of his office under the Antiquities Act to protect more of our natural treasures before they disappear. Last month the President t expanded The Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument to nearly 490,000 square miles, about three times the size of California and six times larger than its previous size. Commercial fishing, dumping, and mining will be prohibited in the reserve, though recreational fishing will be allowed with permits, and boaters may visit the area. Our beloved Diverse Environmental Leader (DEL) Captain Bill Pinkney particularly appreciates this designation in hopes that it will prevent the accumulation of garbage that he encountered while sailing 7,000 miles solo around the globe for22 months beginning in 1990. Last week the President set aside 346,000 acres of the San Gabriel Mountains as a national monument, a move to link more communities east of Los Angeles with wild places in their own backyards. This is an issue of social justice, because its not enough to have this awesome natural wonder within your sight - you have to be able to access it, the President said. As we approach the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service (whose job is to protect the National Park System) in 2016, its so wonderful to have a President who truly values the protection of iconic places that protect the natural, cultural and historic heritage of Americans and the plurality of races that make up our Mosaic. Just as its advisable to have a diversity of crops in agriculture - monocultures are prone to being wiped out by one disease - its desirable to have the plurality of all Americans engaged with the enjoyment, care and protection of our national treasures in our parks and forests. Thats sustainability. Kudos also to the substantial cadre of Volunteers who donate their energies to enhance the legacy of the National Parks. In particular I salute photographer Glenn Gardner who has devoted countless hours volunteering with Everglades National Park and took these gorgeous images at the launch of our Wilderness Writing Expedition October 2. Thank you Glenn and every volunteer! YOU help make our great country greater! Wherever you are and whatever youre doing today, I invite you to take pleasure in the wonderful accomplishments of our county, many of which are protected at the very places where they happened. The land doesnt lie, and our history is writ large in the parks, forests and marine reserves that we are privileged to enjoy and protect for the benefit of this and future generations.
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 17:22:49 +0000
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