THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, 1500 ACRE WILDFIRE BURNS RIGHT OFF.

I-75 IN COLLIER COUNTY.

EVACUATION ORDERS IMPACTING BOTH RESIDENTS AND LIVESTOCK NEAR THE PICAYUNE STRAND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA.

AS LAWMAKERS FOCUS ON REDISTRICTING DURING A SPECIAL SESSION COMING UP IN TALLAHASSEE.

MANY PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHEN WILL THE STATE BUDGET THE PAST AND A CELEBRATION OF AMERICA'S SEMI QUINN CENTENNIAL?

WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNSUNG HEROES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND THE IMPACT THEY LEFT BEHIND ON OUR NATION'S HISTORY.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

A WILDFIRE HAS FORCED THE EVACUATION ABOUT 150 HOMES AND DOZENS OF HORSES IN COLLIER COUNTY.

THE 1500 ACRE BLAZE BEGAN MONDAY IN THE PICAYUNE STRAND STATE FOREST.

FIRE CREWS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTAIN ABOUT 15% OF THE FIRE.

FLAMES CAN BE SEEN FROM.

I-75 JUST SOUTH OF ALLIGATOR ALLEY.

THE COLLIER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS ISSUED URGENT EVACUATION ORDERS FOR AT LEAST 150 HOMEOWNERS.

MULTIPLE RANCHES ARE ALSO LOCATED IN THE AREA LEADING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS RUSHING IN TO HELP EVACUATE DOZENS OF HORSE US.

>> A PERSON WHO WENT THROUGH THIS JUST LAST NIGHT AS CHRISTIAN PETERSEN.

>> KRISTIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FROM YOUR HOME IN GOLDEN GATE ESTATE.

HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?

>> I AM DOING ALRIGHT.

THEY GOT A LITTLE BIT OF SLEEP LAST NIGHT JUST A >> FIGURING OUT THE REST OF THE DAY.

SO YOU HAD TO EVACUATE.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE 7 HORSES OVERNIGHT.

TELL US WHAT HAPPENED.

>> SO THERE WERE 7 HORSES AT THE ONE PARTICULAR PHARMA BELLMEAD.

AND THAT IS WHERE MY NUMBER ONE CONCERN WAS.

MY TRAINERS, THEY'RE MY FRIENDS.

ARE THERE MY HORSES THAT MY NOT MY PRISONERS, BUT OF COURSE, I WAS WORKING WITH US THERE.

HOWEVER, THERE'S A LOT OF FARMS BACK IN THE PICAYUNE AND I'M FRIENDS WITH ALL OF THEM.

SO WE ENDED UP HAVING.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY FARMS THAT HAD TO EVACUATE AND HOW MANY HORSES THAT HAD TO EVACUATE.

I COULDN'T GIVE YOU A NUMBER.

BUT THERE WAS A LOT.

IT WAS A LOT OF HORSES IN THE IT TO GET OUT 7 IN PARTICULAR FROM BELLMEAD.

AND WE GOT ALL OF THOSE 7.

AND THEN WE WENT BACK IN AND JUST.

WHAT EVERYBODY'S FARM AND WHOEVER NEEDED HORSES PICKED UP.

JUMPED OUT OF A TRUCK THAT WAS HANDED HORSES AND LOADED HIM UP.

>> WHEN WERE YOU FIRST ALERTED THAT YOU NEEDED TO EVACUATE THE HORSES?

>> SO WE STARTED NOTICING AROUND 11, 30 IN THE MORNING.

WE WERE OUT OF THE FARM AND WE WERE NOTICING THAT THERE WERE FIRE TRUCKS COMING BY AND WE SAW THAT 3 BULLDOZERS COME BY.

AROUND 11, 30 NOON.

AND THEN I ROAD AND AFTER THAT AROUND 1 O'CLOCK, WE STARTED SEEING HELICOPTERS COME IN.

SO WE GAVE A CALL TO OUR FRIENDS.

MICHELLE, THE OWNS RESTING DAISY RANCH AND ASKED HER IF SHE'S ALWAYS GOT GOOD CONNECTIONS WITH 4 STREAM JUST WELL.

THAT'S GOING ON.

OBVIOUSLY SHE SAW THAT THERE WAS A FIRE.

I SAW HER TRAILER PULLED BY AND SHE TOLD US AT THAT POINT IN TIME IT WAS ONLY 20 ACRES AND THAT EVERYTHING WAS OK RIGHT NOW, EVERYBODY IS GOING TO STAY PUT SO I LEFT FOR MY DAY AND AT ABOUT FOUR-THIRTY, I GOT A TEXT FROM MY TRAINER SAYING WE NEED HELP.

WE HAVE TO GO.

THAT'S WHAT YOU DO.

>> SO I CAN'T IMAGINE TRYING TO EVACUATE COURSES THAT CANNOT BE EASY.

HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WITH A SENSE WHAT WAS GOING ON?

IT?

>> WE HAVE 100% SENSE.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH HORSES AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS THAT LIKE YOU CAN'T INVOLVE YOURSELF WITH THERE.

NEAR OSAZE.

SO I JUST HAD TO.

TURN ALL THAT OFF AND AND THEY DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO SAY NO, THEY CAN'T SAY NO.

THEY NEED TO GET ON THE TRAILER.

I I HAVE TRAINING AND GETTING MORE SAYS ON TRAILERS AND GETTING DIFFICULT VERSUS ON TRAILERS.

AND I JUST RAN UP AND GRABBED HORSES.

DON'T GIVE THEM TIME TO SAY NO.

>> HOW MANY DID YOU HELP EVACUATE?

IT SOUNDS LIKE AT LEAST A DOZEN.

PROBABLY.

YEAH.

>> YEAH.

WE GOT DOWN THERE.

WE HAD A THREE-HORSE TRAILER GOING AND I JUST GRAB HORSES THAT I SAW.

PEOPLE ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY LOADING.

I KNOW WHO SOME OF THE OLDER LADIES WERE.

I KNOW SOME OF THE HORSES WERE.

AND ONE 4TH IN PARTICULAR.

HE PULLED OUT AND GAVE THIS POOR LADY A ROSE BYRNE AND I JUST GRABBED HIM IN.

LOADED HIM UP ON THE TRAILER.

AND THEN ANOTHER LADY WALKED OUT AND SHE SAID, I NEED HELP.

I NEED HELP.

AND I RAN OUT AND GRABBED HERS.

AND I JUST LOADED THE HORSE UP.

AND JUST KEPT KEPT MOVING >> WHAT WAS THE MOOD LIKE?

WERE PEOPLE A BIT?

FRANTIC ARE CALM.

>> IT WAS FRANTIC.

IT WAS FRANTIC.

THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE, THOUGH.

I MEAN, YOU COULDN'T GET.

YOU COULD GET IN.

BUT I MEAN, THERE WERE HORSE TRAILERS EVERYWHERE, WHICH IS JUST THE COMMUNITY REALLY, REALLY PULLS TOGETHER IN TIMES LIKE THIS.

AND IT WAS.

IT WAS CHAOTIC.

IT WAS CRAZY.

BUT EVERYBODY WAS THERE.

ALL HANDS WERE ON DECK.

YOU KNOW, YOU JUST CALL.

WE'VE GOT A TRAILER, A CUP, FACEBOOK POST AND EVERYBODY JUST PULLED TOGETHER AND GOT EVERYBODY SAFE.

ALL THE HORSES WERE OUT BY.

I WANT TO SAY WE GOT HOME AT 8.30, LAST NIGHT, BUT I WOULD SAY ALL THE HORSES WERE OUT BY LIKE 7 AND CONFIRMED IT WHEN EVERYBODY WOULD DRIVE TO ONE FARM AT THAT FARM WAS EMPTIED, GO TO THE NEXT FARM AND JUST CALL HIM PEOPLE STOPPING BY.

THE HOUSE IS MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY WAS SAFE.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE A PRETTY TIGHT-KNIT AND VERY SPECIAL COMMUNITY.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU TO BE PART OF THIS?

I WOULD PREFER TO NOT BE PART OF THE FIRE.

>> HOWEVER, IT JUST REALLY SHOWS ME HOW BUT OUR COMMUNITY, THE WORST COMMUNITY COME CAN COME WITH A STIGMA THAT CAN COME WITH.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S PEOPLE THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY AND HORSES IN THIS AND THAT.

BUT REALLY THE COMMUNITY AROUND HERE AND IN THE ESTATES, IN THE PICAYUNE IN ALL OF THESE FARMS, WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE.

BUT IN THE COMMUNITY FOR 10, 15, 20 YEARS.

THAT I'VE BEEN IN IT FOR ABOUT 15, ALMOST 20, WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER AND WE ALL HAVE EACH OTHER'S BACK.

I MEAN, AT ANY POINT IN TIME, ESPECIALLY OF FIRE, EVERYBODY'S TRAILERS ARE HOOKED UP.

EVERYBODY'S READY TO GO AND AND NOBODY LOOKS BACK YOU KNOW, I'M I'M A WOMAN AND MY BOYFRIEND WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE FACT THAT I SAID I'M GOING TO GET MY SON AND I'M GOING TO A FIRE.

BUT THAT'S JUST WHAT WHAT WE ALL DID.

WE KNOW IT.

SO YOU HAVE TO DO.

EVERY WORD SAYS ARE INVALUABLE AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER IN VALUABLE.

AND THERE'S IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY PRICELESS.

THAT.

TRUST AND LOVE THAT WE ALL HAVE FOR EACH OTHER.

>> WELL, THANK GOODNESS THAT THEY WERE ALL EVACUATED AND THAT ALL OF YOU ARE SAFE AND CERTAINLY WISH YOU WELL TO THIS NEXT FEW DAYS AS WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE WITH A FIRE IN OBVIOUSLY MAKING SURE EVERYBODY'S SAFE AND THE HORSES AS WELL.

THANKS AT JOINING US.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

>> COMING UP NEXT, SCREEN, THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA TO CENTER STAGE.

WE GET A SNEAK PEEK AT AN UPCOMING PERFORMANCE THAT SHINES A LIGHT ON TO INSTRUMENTAL FEATURES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

ART ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ARE SHOWCASING THEIR PATRIOTIC PRIDE AS PART OF THE AMERICA.

2.50, GULF COAST SYMPHONY IS COMMEMORATING THE 200 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WITH A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE OF 17, 76 WGCU ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL SHOWS US THE LOVE STORY AT THE CENTER OF THE PRODUCTION.

>> SO YOU DON'T HAVE MADAM SOMETHING.

OKAY.

>> WAS HAMILTON, THERE WERE 17.

76.

>> MANUEL SAID WITHOUT 17, 76, THERE WAS NO HAMILTON.

AND SO THERE REALLY ARE WONDERFUL PARALLELS BETWEEN THE 2 OF THEM.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN EVER GET TIRED OF LEARNING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF AMERICA BECAUSE WHAT WE READ ABOUT AND LEARN ABOUT IN THE CLASSROOM IS ONLY JUST A FRACTION OF WHAT THE TRUE STORY OF AMERICA REALLY IS.

AND OF COURSE, WE'RE LIVING IT OUT TODAY.

>> IT'S NOT TOO SURE HOW OR PLAYS ABIGAIL ADAMS IN 17.

76.

SHE MADE HER BROADWAY DEBUT IN THE SOUND OF MUSIC AT THE AGE OF 15 AND HAS GONE ON TO STAR IN TOURS OF PARADE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AND LES MISERABLES PLAYING ABIGAIL ADAMS HAS BEEN A BUCKET LIST ROLLS AND SHE WAS JUST A KID.

NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE SHOW'S HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, BUT BECAUSE ABIGAIL ADAMS WAS SUCH A STRONG INDEPENDENT WOMAN, JASON PARISH, WHO STARS AS JOHN ADAMS IN THE MUSICAL COULDN'T AGREE MORE.

SHE BECAME A VOICE OF >> REASON FOR HIM.

SHE BECAME A SOUNDING BOARD FOR HIM.

SHE BECAME SOMEONE TO SORT OF POKE HIS EGO AND MAKE HIM SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO COMPROMISE WITH THESE PEOPLE.

SHE WAS HIS CONSCIENCE KIND OF THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS AND THROUGH HIS EVENTUAL PRESIDENCY OF YEARS.

>> HAVE >> A GO AT UM'S CONVEYED THAT STRENGTHEN MODERATING INFLUENCE TO A SERIES OF LETTERS THE COUPLE EXCHANGED DURING THE 14 MONTHS IT TOOK THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS TO NEGOTIATE THE BAIT AND ADOPT A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

ONE SUCH LETTER SERVED AS THE BASIS FOR THIS CHARMING MUSICAL INTERLUDE TILL THEN >> UNTIL THEN IS A BEAUTIFUL NUMBER AT THE OPENING OF THE SHOW.

THAT'S A DRAMATIZATION OF THE FIRST OF 3 IN THE SHOW OF JOHN AND ABIGAIL ADAMS IS FAMOUS LETTERS TO ONE ANOTHER.

HE WROTE SOMETIMES 3 TIMES A DAY TO ABIGAIL.

SHE WAS HIS BEST FRIEND.

SHE ALSO PUSHED HIM TO STAY STRONG AND ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE THEY HAD A TREMENDOUS LOVE AND A NEED.

AND AND I AND NEED TO BE TOGETHER AND BE WITH EACH OTHER.

SO IN A SENSE, ABBOTT BILLS, THE MOTIVATING FORCE BEHIND WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE HIS DESIRE TO GET BACK TO BRAINTREE AND BACK TO HIS MASSACHUSETTS FARM IS THE THING THAT'S URGING HIM TO GET THIS THING DONE.

GET THE VOTE FOR INDEPENDENCE TO BE DONE FROM HOME TO FUTURE TILL THEN IS EMBLEMATIC OF THE THEME OF 17, 76.

>> DO >> THIS PLAY IS REALLY ABOUT TEACHING US A LESSON IN HOW TO COMPROMISE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

HOW TO WORK WITH ONE ANOTHER.

HOW TO HAVE A LOOK PAST OUR POLITICAL DIFFERENCES AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE ALL PEOPLE AND WHAT THE FOUNDING FATHERS LEFT FOR US.

NOT JUST IN THIS DOCUMENT, BUT EVENTUALLY THE CONSTITUTION IS THEY BUILT A SYSTEM THAT REQUIRES WORKING TOGETHER IN ORDER TO GET.

THINGS DONE IN ORDER TO GOVERN IN A DRAMA TO ZEESHAN OF THIS.

>> SHOW IS REALLY PALPABLE.

WHAT REALLY IS AT STAKE.

YOU READ IT THROUGH GEORGE WASHINGTON'S MISSIVES THAT ARE SENT THROUGH THAT OR RED.

YOU SEE IT THROUGH THE CONFLICT OF AND HOW CLOSE WE CAME TO NOT GAINING OUR INDEPENDENCE.

THAT IS REALLY TRUE.

AND AND ABIGAIL LETTERS AND SEEING WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE HOME FRONT, HOW WE'RE STRUGGLING AT HOME.

THERE WAS SO MUCH AT STAKE AND WE DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WOULD MAKE IT.

I AM SO INSPIRED BY BEING ABLE TO BE A PART OF THIS AND THINKING ABOUT BUT COULD BE NEXT FOR THE NEXT 250 YEARS.

WHAT WHAT IS IN STORE FOR OUR FUTURE AND HOW COMEY MAKE THIS COUNTRY EVEN MORE WONDERFUL AND HOW CAN WE MAKE OUR SHELVES EVEN STRONGER?

>> I DO.

I HAVE TO GO TO THE CASA OF >> DIRECTOR JEREMY WEBB REMINDS US THAT THERE'S ANOTHER ASPECT OF THIS PRODUCTION THAT MAKES IT MUST THE THEATER.

WHAT'S SPECIFICALLY GREAT ABOUT THIS EVENT THAT WE'RE DOING IS THAT IT'S A SYMPHONIC EXPERIENCE.

SO WE HAVE.

>> I THINK A 40 PIECE ORCHESTRA ONSTAGE THE ENTIRE EVENING.

>> WITH MEISTER AND RICK HURTS AND IN FRONT OF THAT, WE HAVE THE EVENTS UNFOLDING IN FRONT OF YOU IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES.

THE STAGES IS FULL.

I MEAN, AT CERTAIN POINTS, I THINK WE'LL HAVE 70 ARTISTS ON STAGE AT THE SAME TIME THE U.S.

>> WE'RE TELLING THE STORY OF OUR QUEST FOR INDEPENDENCE TO MUSICAL THEATRE ALSO FITS UNIQUELY WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF AMERICA, 2.50 >> THERE'S NO ART FAR MORE AMERICAN THAN THAT IN MUSICAL THEATER.

WE INVENTED IT.

AND HERE TO SPECTACULAR SHOWS THE BOTH.

AN EQUAL WAYS ARE CELEBRATING.

THIS AMAZING ART FORM THAT WE CAN CALL OUR OWN.

SO 17.

76 IS AN AMERICAN SHOW IN AND AMERICAN IDIOM ORIGINAL TO US ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENT IN AMERICAN FOR WGCU NEWS IM TOM HALL.

>> WHILE FAMOUS FIGURES LIKE JOHN ADAMS HAVE BECOME PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY.

SCHOOL CURRICULUM, NOT EVERY HERO OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, HAS RECEIVED THE SAME RECOGNITION WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE SPOKE WITH ONE AUTHOR WHO CAPTURED THE LARGER THAN LIFE STORY OF THE MAN.

DON'T AS THE AMERICAN HERCULES >> SO FOR MORE ON OUR CONTINUING COVERAGE OF FLORIDA TO 50, WE ARE JOINED BY JOHN T PALMER, AUTHOR OF THE NEW BOOK, GEORGE WASHINGTON'S ONE MAN ARMY, THE LIFE LEGEND AND BATTLES OF PETER FRANCISCO, MR.

PALMER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

SO THIS IS A GUY WHO'S KIND OF BEEN FORGOTTEN IN HISTORY.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON PETER FRANCISCO?

>> I HAVE TO TELL YOU I FIRST HEARD OF PETER FRANCISCO BY LISTENING TO THE HISTORY CHANNEL ON THE BACKGROUND AS I WAS DOING WORK, THE NARRATOR RECOUNTED THE BATTLE OF CAMDEN WHERE THERE WAS A SOLDIER REPUTED TO HAVE SHOULDER AND CARRIED A HALF-TON CANNON FROM THE BATTLEFIELD THAT GOT MY ATTENTION BECAUSE THAT IS ROUGHLY THE MODERN WORLD RECORD FOR A BARBELL DEADLIFT.

AND SO THAT'S JUST BRINGING THE WAIT, YOU KNOW, FROM THE GROUND TO YOUR SIZE TO PLAY SUCH A WEIGHT ON ONE SHOULDER WAS NEARLY UNBELIEVABLE.

SO I CONDUCTED SOME PAST RESEARCH ON PETER FRANCISCO AND I SETTLED UP ON HIM LATER IN LIFE WHEN I WAS SEEKING SUBJECTS FOR MY SECOND BOOK IS AN AUTHOR, THE FAMOUS WRITER, DAVID MCCALL, ADVISE ASPIRING AUTHORS TO WRITE ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S NEW, SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT BEFORE.

SO IN MY RESEARCH, I FOUND SOME SMALL BIOGRAPHIES, ON THAT TOOK HIS PERSONAL HEROICS AND ALSO EXAMINED IN DETAIL THE WIFE OF AN INDENTURED ORPHAN, 18 TH-CENTURY BLACKSMITH, A COMMON REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER AS WELL AS THE GENERALS IN CHARGE OF THE BATTLES, THE STRATEGIES, THE WINS, THE LOSSES, THE ROADS TO UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS.

AND SO FOR ONE MAN, ARMY IS NOT ONLY A BOOK ABOUT FRANCISCO, BUT ALSO THE BATTLES, THE LEADERS AND IN SOME CASES ENLISTED COMRADES, THE VIRGINIA GIANT IN THE FIELD.

>> BUT NOW HE HAS REALLY THIS FANTASTIC UPBRINGING THE WAY HE WAS KIDNAPPED BY PIRATES AS A CHILD.

AS YOU MENTIONED, HE WAS PUT INTO INDENTURED SERVITUDE THAT HE JOINS UP WITH THE VIRGINIA MILITIA HAND CARRIES A BROAD MASSIVE ONE.

SO HOW IS THIS FOLK LEGEND FELT AROUND HIS TIME AND HOW DID HE HELP THE MILITARY EFFORTS WHEN YOU HAVE THIS MAN, ONE INDIVIDUAL HAVING THIS INCREDIBLE BACKSTORY, THAT'S ALONG THE LINES OF LIKE A PAUL BUNYAN OR A JOHN HENRY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

>> IT IS AN AMAZING STORY EXCEPT.

PETER FRANCISCO, ISRAEL.

YOU KNOW, HE'S ALSO KNOWN AS THE ONE MAN ARMY AND THE VIRGINIA GIANT.

HE WAS BORN INTO EUROPEAN NOBILITY AND HE WAS ABDUCTED FROM HIS HOME BY MARINERS.

HIS HOME WAS A PORTUGUESE, A SOURCE AT THE AGE OF 4 17.

65.

NOW THEY SAILED ACROSS THE ATLANTIC AND HE WAS A POSITIVE UNCEREMONIOUSLY ON THE DOT AND CITY POINT VIRGINIA.

SPEAKING NO ENGLISH.

ALL YOU CAN SAY WITH HIS NAME, PEDRO FRANCISCO.

HE WAS INDENTURE TO PATRICK HENRY UNCLE AS A BLACKSMITH AND THEY CHANGED HIS NAME TO PETER.

THEY GREW A WHOPPING 6 FOOT 6 260 POUNDS BY THE AGE OF 14.

AFTER HEARING FIRSTHAND.

PATRICK HENRY SAID, GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH SPEECH.

HE DECIDED THAT HE WANTED TO JOIN THE CONTINENTAL ARMY AND DID SO.

AND IT BECAME THE MOST RENOWNED ENLISTED SOLDIER OF THE REVOLUTION IN HIS CAPACITY AS A SOLDIER.

HE PARTICIPATE IN SOME OF THE FIERCEST FIGHTING WITNESS, THE GREATEST EVENTS AND MET AN ASTOUNDING NUMBER OF LUMINARIES FROM EARLY AMERICA HEADLINED BY GENERALS, GEORGE WASHINGTON, NATHANIEL GREENE AND THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE WITH WHOM HE FORMED A FIVE-DECADE FRIENDSHIPS.

ALL TOLD PETER FRANCISCO FOUGHT IN AT LEAST 10 ENGAGEMENT AND RECEIVED 6 GRUESOME WOUNDS AS HE DISPATCHED OVER 20 ENEMY SOLDIERS, MOSTLY BY THE BAND AND A 6 FOOT BRONZE SWORD THAT WAS COMMISSION BY HIM OR FOR HIM BY NONE OTHER THAN GENERAL WASHINGTON, HIS FEATS OF COURAGE AND STRENGTH OR LEGEND.

THERE.

NOW AFTER THE WAR, HE BECAME A PLANT OR ENGAGED IN SELF-MEDICATION AND HE TAUGHT HIMSELF TO READ.

THEY MARRIED IN THE VIRGINIA SOCIETY 3 TIMES AND WAS STARTING TO SERGEANT AT ARMS FOR THE VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.

READ 31.

BUT THIS IS A COMPELLING ACCOUNT.

ONE OF AMERICA'S FIRST AND FINEST HEROES.

>> I MEAN, JUST INCREDIBLE STORY AFTER STORY ABOUT HIM THAT WHEN YOU GO INTO, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL AND YOU LEARN ABOUT THE AMERICAN REAL REVOLUTION, YOU HEAR ABOUT FIGURES LIKE PAUL REVERE'S, MIDNIGHT RUN.

YOU MENTION THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE AND HIS INFLUENCE ON FLOOR AND FOREIGN POLITICS.

SO HOW DOES SOMEONE LIKE PETER FRANCISCO JUST FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS WHEN HE LIVED THIS LARGER THAN LIFE LEGEND?

>> I THINK IN THE END, ALTHOUGH HE WAS BORN INTO NOBILITY.

HE WAS AN ILLITERATE INDENTURED ORPHAN UNTIL HE TAUGHT HIMSELF TO READ AFTER THE WAR.

AND SO MOST OF THE DISCUSSION ABOUT PETER FRANCISCO WAS WORD OF MOUTH AND THESE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, RELEGATED TO TALL TALES EXCEPT FOR ONE THING.

HE WAS ABLE TO.

ONCE HE LEARN TO READ AND WRITE, HE APPLIED FOR PENSIONS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE VIRGINIA STATE GOVERNMENT.

AND IN DOING SO.

HE RECOUNTED HIS BATTLEFIELD EXPLOITS AND NOT ONLY THAT, HE GOT FELLOW SOLDIERS TO SIGN AFFIDAVITS SAYING WHAT THIS MAN IS SAYING IS TRUE AND I WITNESSED IT AND THAT'S HOW WE KNOW WITH FAIR CERTAINTY.

EXACTLY WHAT PETER FRANCISCO DID.

ALL THAT ASIDE.

HE WAS STILL JUST AN ENLISTED SOLDIER.

HE WAS NOT LANDED.

GENTRY.

HE WAS JUST A YOUNG MAN DOING HIS PART.

SOME OF THE FEATS WERE GREAT AND MIGHTY, BUT THEY JUST SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS OF HISTORY.

>> NOW SEVERAL STATES HAVE OFFERED A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR HIM, INCLUDING MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND.

DO YOU THINK THERE SHOULD BE MORE DONE, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT HE WASN'T A GENERAL OR A HIGH RANKING BUT REALLY A SOLDIER WHO ENLISTED IN THE ARMY.

DO YOU THINK MORE SHOULD BE DONE TO HONOR HIS LEGACY?

>> WELL, I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THIS GOES BACK TO.

I THINK WHAT MY FATHER SAID IN MY LATE FATHER WAS A FARMER, YOU KNOW, FROM EASTERN KENTUCKY HILLS WHOSE WORLD WAR 2 PARATROOPER AND EVEN LEGITIMATE TOUGH GUY.

AND HE USED TO BOYS GOT TO HAVE HEROES OTHERWISE.

HOW IS HE TO KNOW HOW TO ACT WHEN TIMES GET TOUGH.

SO AS A RESULT, I WAS RAISED ON STORIES OF GREAT AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY WARRIOR SUCH AS ALVIN YORK AUDIE MURPHY, JOHN PAUL JONES AND GEORGE PATON.

I FOUND IN FRANCISCO HERO WHO FACED THE STEEPEST ODDS AS A KIDNAP ORPHAN.

HIS WARTIME GREATNESS WAS IN THE MOST DIFFICULT COMBAT SCENARIOS.

TERRIFYING LINES OF ALI, OFTEN THE BALDING AND HAND TO HAND COMBAT LIFE OR DEATH BY THE BAND THAT AND THE SWORD BY ANY MEASURE, FRANCISCO SHOULD BE REMEMBERED AS POSSESSING UNLESS COURAGE IN THE ANNALS OF AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> WELL, THE BOOK IS GEORGE WASHINGTON'S ONE MAN ARMY, THE LIFE LEGEND AND BATTLES OF PETER FRANCISCO, AUTHOR JOHN T PALMER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING >> OUR CONTINUING LOOK INTO FLORIDA TO 50 S SPONSORED IN PART BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA THROUGH THE DIVISION OF ARTS AND CULTURE.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, FLORIDA LAWMAKERS ARE HEADING BACK TO THE STATE CAPITAL TO TALK REDISTRICTING, BUT WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE THE ABSENT STATE BUDGET?

FLORIDA LAWMAKERS ARE GEARING UP FOR A RETURN TO TALLAHASSEE AS PART OF A SPECIAL SESSION CALLED UPON BY GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS.

LAWMAKERS WILL RECONVENE ON MONDAY.

APRIL 20TH TO ADDRESS THE REDRAWING OF FLORIDA'S CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAPS.

WHAT REMAINS IN LIMBO, A STATE BUDGET.

>> JOINING US NOW FOR A LOOK AT THE STATUS OF SOME KEY ISSUES IN TALLAHASSEE RIGHT NOW IS WGCU HOST AND REPORTER JOHN DAVIS.

JOHN, WELCOME.

LET'S START WITH THE SPECIAL SESSION ON REDISTRICTING, WHICH BEGINS ON MONDAY.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> RIGHT.

SO THIS IS A SPECIAL SESSION TO SANTA'S CALLED A WHILE BACK.

IT IS KIND OF UNUSUAL MID-DECADE CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING.

USUALLY THAT ONLY HAPPENS EVERY 10 YEARS WHEN WE HAVE NEW CENSUS DATA.

BUT THIS EFFORT REALLY STARTED, YOU KNOW, ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN TRUMP ENCOURAGED REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED TEXAS TO REDRAW THEIR DISTRICT MAPS.

AND IT'S NOT JUST HAPPENING IN FLORIDA AND VIRGINIA.

EARLY BALLOTING HAS ALREADY BEGUN FOR A VOTE ON THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS.

HEAVILY BLUE MARILYN HAD BEEN CONSIDERING REDRAWING THEIR MAPS, BUT THEIR SESSION JUST ENDED AND THEY ENDED UP NOT GOING AHEAD WITH IT.

THE SENATE, THE STATE SENATE IN MARYLAND WAS AGAINST IT BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO OUST THE STATE'S LONE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

THERE WERE SENATORS WHO VOICED CONCERNS THAT THE EFFORT COULD ACTUALLY BACKFIRE.

AND THAT'S SIMILAR TO THE SITUATION WE'RE DEALING WITH IN FLORIDA RIGHT NOW.

REPUBLICANS HOLD 20 OF FLORIDA'S 28 CONGRESSIONAL SEATS CURRENTLY IN.

SO THE INITIAL AIM OF THIS REDISTRICTING EFFORT WAS TO SEE IF REPUBLICANS COULD REDRAWN DISTRICT BOUNDARIES IN A WAY THAT WOULD GAME 5 MORE REPUBLICAN SEATS IN CONGRESS.

BUT THEN WE HAVE THAT RECENT SPECIAL ELECTION WHERE WHEAT SOUGHT TO STATE LEGISLATIVE SEATS FLIPPED FROM REPUBLICAN TO DEMOCRATIC AND SO THAT HAS SORT OF CREATED A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN ABOUT WHETHER THIS REPRESENTS A CHANGE IN VOTER OPINIONS AND WHETHER OR NOT GOING ABOUT THIS EFFORT MIGHT ACTUALLY BACKFIRE IN FLORIDA AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, SOME FLORIDA REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED DOUBTS ABOUT REDISTRICTING, U.S.

HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER HAKEEM JEFFRIES AS THAT OF FLORIDA MAP CHANGE WOULD ACTUALLY HELP DEMOCRATS WIN A SEAT.

SO I THINK WHERE PEOPLE FALL ON THAT REALLY DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH WEIGHT YOU GIVE THE RESULTS OF A SPECIAL ELECTION.

SO I GUESS WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO SEE.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THIS IS ALSO HAVING AN IMPACT ON CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS AND VOTERS BECAUSE UNTIL SURE ISSUE WAS SETTLED, CAN'T YOU KNOW CANDIDATES WHETHER REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT OR INDEPENDENT, THEY ARE NOT ACTUALLY GOING TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEIR DISTRICT BOUNDARIES ARE.

AND LIKEWISE, THE VOTERS AREN'T GOING TO KNOW EXACTLY WHICH RACES THEY NEED TO BE LOOKING AT AND WHAT'S GOING TO BE ON THEIR BALLOT.

AND IT JUST FIRSTLY IMPACTS CAMPAIGN TIMELINES.

SO WE'LL SEE.

>> AND THE BUDGET IS YET TO BE DECIDED.

WILL THE BUDGET BE ADDRESSED AT ALL IN THE SPECIAL SESSION COMING UP?

I DON'T THINK SO.

>> BECAUSE THE PROCLAMATION CALLING THE SPECIAL SESSION CLEARLY STATES THAT THIS IS SOLELY TO DEAL WITH REDISTRICTING.

NOW, YOU MAY REMEMBER THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE ARE STILL ABOUT 1.4 BILLION DOLLARS APART ON THEIR PROPOSED SPENDING PLANS.

THE SENATE IS EMPHASIZING SPENDING RESTRAINT AND LOWERING TAXES LONG TERM.

THE HOUSE IS PUSHING DIFFERENT PRIORITIES, INCLUDING TAX CUT SPENDING ALLOCATIONS AND LEADING TO WHAT LEADERS CALL OF BASICALLY A FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENT OVER THE BUDGET STRUCTURE.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE A SMALL AMOUNT.

I BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT ONE PERCENT OF THE OF THE BUDGET.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

WHY IS THIS SUCH A BIG COLD UP SUCH A SMALL NUMBER?

THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

JENNIFER.

>> I MEAN, WE'RE LOOKING AT A PROPOSED BUDGET THAT'S GOING TO BE IN EXCESS OF 100 BILLION DOLLARS.

SO THIS 1.4 BILLION DOLLAR DIFFERENCE IN THE SPENDING PROPOSALS.

IT IS.

IT'S JUST 1.2% OF THE BUDGET.

THE REASON WHY THIS MIGHT BE SIGNIFICANT, THOUGH, IS THAT STATE A U.S.

KNOW FLORIDA IS HEADING TOWARDS, YOU KNOW, BILLIONS IN BUDGET CUTS OVER THE NEXT 2 YEARS.

THE SPENDING IS NOT ALTERED ARRAIGNED IN SOMEHOW THE BUDGET IS PROJECTED TO BE IN THE RED BY OVER A BILLION DOLLARS NEXT YEAR.

AND THEN BY 6 BILLION DOLLARS THE YEAR AFTER THAT AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING DOES HAVE TO CHANGE.

THERE ARE THERE ARE SO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT.

UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS TODAY, JENNIFER.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE LATEST UPDATE ON.

THANKS.

A LOT.

>> AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.