HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS SPECIAL EPISODE OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS, WE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE STORIES WE'VE COVERED TO HONOR THE PEOPLE WHO DEDICATED THEIR LIVES IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.

WE'LL REVISIT THE EFFORTS AND SACRIFICES.

MADE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA DURING WORLD WAR 2 AND THE CIVIL WAR.

BUT FIRST, AN ORGANIZED A BAND OF THE MOTORCYCLE RIDERS SHOWS UP AT EVENTS ALL OVER FLORIDA.

THEIR MISSION TO HONOR VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WGCUS DAYNA HARPSTER HAS THE STORY.

>> THERE ARE NO DUES.

FEES ARE MEETINGS TO BE PART OF THIS MOTORCYCLE GROUP.

AND YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO HAVE A MOTORCYCLE TO PARTICIPATE.

YOU CAN SHOW UP IN A CAGE BY THAT.

THEY MEAN A CAR AND SHOW RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR OTHERS ON A RECENT WEDNESDAY MORNING, THEY BRAVED A PROLIFERATION OF LOVE BUGS TO GATHER FROM THEIR HOMES IN ST.

PETERSBURG, NORTH PORT AND ELSEWHERE AT SARASOTA NATIONAL CEMETERY.

THERE.

THEY PAID THEIR RESPECTS TO VETERANS WHO WERE BURIED DURING THE PAST MONTH.

WE EXTEND THE FLORIDA BRIDE.

CAPTAIN EXPLAINS.

>> WE'RE HERE TO HONOR THE VETERANS THAT WERE INTERRED HERE.

AT SARASOTA AND THE PREVIOUS MONTH THAT DIDN'T RECEIVE FULL MILITARY HONORS.

AND THESE VETERANS WERE UNCLAIMED, BASICALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY FAMILY THAT IT ENDED.

SO TODAY WE'RE HAVING AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO STAND THEN AND HONORING THEM AS AS BASICALLY FAMILY TODAY.

>> US MARINE CORPS KOREA.

AND SHE WOULD U.S.

ARMY VIETNAM.

>> THE PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS AND ONE OF SEVERAL GROUPS TO PROVIDE THOSE HONORS WITH FLAGS AND SILENT WITNESS ABOUT 2500 RIDERS IN FLORIDA PARTICIPATE IN THE MOVEMENT.

IT BEGAN MAIN KANSAS AND 20.

0, 5, THE GROUP ORIGINALLY WAS CREATED BY THE AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS TO SHIELD THE FUNERALS OF FALLEN MILITARY HEROES FROM HARASSING PROTESTS BY THE WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH.

DAVE GRIFFITH HAS WRITTEN WITH THE GROUP FOR MORE THAN 4 YEARS.

FOR MEDICAL REASONS.

HE WAS UNABLE TO JOIN THE U.S.

MILITARY.

>> THIS IS MY WAY OF.

GIVING BACK A LITTLE BIT.

TO THEIR SACRIFICE.

LET'S UP.

IT'S A GOOD GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE FOR ONE PURPOSE AND ONE PURPOSE ONLY AND THAT'S TO HONOR OUR VETERANS.

OBVIOUSLY THE FIRST RESPONDERS AS WELL.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'LL ASSEMBLE AND COME DOWN EVERY MONTH.

JULES AND WHAT HAVE YOU?

>> IT WAS THE U.S.

NAVY VIETNAM.

WELL, KANTER U.S.

ARM.

HE HAD NOT.

>> THEY GATHERED FOR A CEREMONY THAT INCLUDES THE READING OF NAMES ON THIS DAY.

THERE ARE 6, MOSTLY FROM THE VIETNAM WAR.

PLUS, THE PLAYING OF TAPS AND A GUN SALUTE.

AFTER ALL, THE NAMES ARE READ, THE PATRIOT RIDERS AND OTHERS 3 AT A TIME PROCEED TO A BENCH WITH A FLAG IS UNFURLED AND EITHER PLACE THEIR HANDS OVER THEIR HEARTS ARE SALUTE AND THEN MOVE ON, ALLOWING THE NEXT GROUP TO SHOW THEIR RESPECT.

LUTHER CARRIER EXPLAINS THAT HE GOT STARTED IN THE GROUP WHEN HE HELPED THIS WAY FIND THE GRAVE OF HER FATHER WHO WAS KILLED IN WORLD WAR.

2.

>> SO A TIME LAPSE FAMILIES IN DO WHAT THEY DO.

THEY THEY EVOLVE AND BUT HAS BEEN A TURNING POINT FOR ME AND DEALING WITH VETERANS.

NOW THAT I KNOW WHERE HE'S AT.

AND THEN THE FAMILY KNOWS FOR UNCLE BILL AS >> IN OVER U.S.

MARINE WHO DID NOT.

>> CARRIER ALSO HAS A NONPROFIT THAT HELPS VETERANS WIVES AND CAREGIVERS WHO ARE DEALING WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.

BESIDES THAT, HE WAS LEAVING THE CEMETERY THAT MORNING TO RIDE THE OKEECHOBEE TO MEET UP WITH SOME OTHER RIDERS AT A NATIONAL VETERANS MEMORIAL.

IT'S IT'S VERY, VERY REWARDING.

>> 2 ATTENDEES FARRELL'S SAY OCEANS OTHER PEOPLE AND TO KNOW THAT I'M GIVING BACK.

>> FOR WGCU NEWS, THIS IS DAYNA HARPSTER.

>> THE U.S.

MILITARY BECAME AN ALL VOLUNTEER FORCE IN JANUARY OF 1973.

FOLLOWING THE END OF ACTIVE U.S.

PARTICIPATION IN THE VIETNAM WAR.

AT A MEMORIAL DAY REMEMBRANCE IN 2011, FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA STATED THAT, QUOTE, OUR NATION OWES A DEBT TO ITS FALLEN HEROES THAT WE CAN NEVER FULLY REPAY, BUT WE CAN HONOR THEIR SACRIFICE.

THIS YEAR, AMERICA'S CELEBRATES SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL AND THROUGH THOSE YEARS.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HAS CERTAINLY PLAYED IMPORTANT ROLES DEFINING OUR NATION'S HISTORY.

THAT INCLUDES ONE REGION WHICH HELPED SAVE THE NATION DURING WORLD WAR 2.

WGCUS MIKE WALCHER REPORTS ON HOW THIS ONCE SLEEPY AREA BECAME A VITAL TO THE WAR EFFORT >> IN GERMANY DOMINATED THE SKIES OVER EUROPE WHEN AMERICA ENTERED THE WAR IN LATE 1941, JAPAN CONTROL OF THE AIR OVER MUCH OF THE PACIFIC.

THE U.S.

AND ALLIES FACED AN UPHILL FIGHT.

>> THE OUTCOME WAS NOT GUARANTEED BY BY ANY STRETCH AND IT WASN'T GOING TO REQUIRE A A MAJOR EFFORT ON THE WORLD'S PART.

BUT UNITED STATES PLAYING THE LARGEST ROLE IN THAT.

>> THE MILITARY KNEW THE U.S.

HAD TO TAKE BACK THE SKIES AND THAT'S BEEN TRAINING.

PILOTS AND FLEXIBLE GUNNERS TO PROTECT MUMMERS FLEXIBLE AS AND MEN WHO TWISTED 50 CALIBER MACHINE GUNS ALL AROUND TO FIRED AND THE PLAINS.

FLORIDA PROOF THE IDEAL TRAINING GROUND.

>> VERY SIMPLE.

IT WAS FLAT OPEN.

>> PAGE AND FORT MYERS ALREADY WAS AN AIRFIELD.

SO THE MOVE TO MILITARY TRAINING HAPPENED FAST.

>> THEY WERE FIGHTERS COMING IN.

THE RIB AAMER'S COMING IN.

THERE WERE TRANSPORT PLANES COMING IN AND THEY WOULD GO UP AND TRAIN PILOTS.

MATT JOHNSON IS DIRECTOR OF THE IMAG HISTORY AND SCIENCE CENTER IN FORT MYERS.

>> HE CO-WROTE A BOOK ABOUT BUCKING HIM AIRFIELD IN BUCKINGHAM.

THE NEW ARMY AIR FORCES BASE WAS CARVED ABOVE SWAMPS IN FOREST TO TRAIN AERIAL GUNNERS TO PROTECT BOMBERS.

FAR CRY FROM THE RESORTS.

THE DRAW VISITORS TO THE REGION TODAY.

>> SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER.

NO AIR CONDITIONING, NO MOSQUITO CONTROL LIVING IN A BASICALLY A BOX WITH TAR PAPER WALLS WITH.

YOU KNOW, DOZENS OF OTHER PEOPLE IN BUNK BEDS AND TRAINING THEY WOULD SHOOT SKATE WITH SHOT GUNS AND I WOULD TEACH HIM HOW TO LEAD A TARGET.

BOMBERS WHEN THEY'RE FLYING ARE NOT NICE AND FLAT AND SMOOTH.

THEY'RE BOUNCING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

SO THEY PUT HIM IN THE BACK OF PICKUP TRUCKS WITH A 50 CALIBER MACHINE GUNS AND TAUGHT HIM HOW TO SHOOT TARGETS BOUNCING AROUND IN THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK.

>> THOUSANDS OF WOMEN PART OF THE WOMEN'S AUXILIARY CORPS WAX HELP RUN THE BASES.

RIC BLACK HONORED THEM AT A RECENT EVENT IN BUCKINGHAM PUT ON BY THE FORT MYERS, AMATEUR RADIO CLUB.

OKAY.

CAN I GET YOUR NAME AND LOCATION CLOSE TO A BAR EARLY >> HE SAYS HIS MOM, BETTY, A WAS A 17 YEAR-OLD CIVILIAN WORKING AT BUCKINGHAM.

SHE TRANSPORTED AMMUNITION AND OTHER SUPPLIES TO PLANES WAITING TO TAKE OFF THAT I'M >> PROUD OF THE ROLE THAT SHE PLAYED IN THE HAT AND PROUD OF THE THE U.S.

MILITARY AND WHAT IT DID IN THE WAR.

>> BLACK SAYS HIS MOTHER'S STORIES ABOUT BUCKINGHAM INSPIRED HIM TO JOIN THE AIR FORCE.

I THINK WHAT SHE DID IS >> THAT KIND OF THING WHICH ENABLED US TO CONTINUE IN OUR FREEDOM.

>> WOMEN AIRFORCE SERVICE PILOTS, WASPS, FLU ARMORED PLANES AS TARGETS FOR THE GUNNERS FIRING PLASTIC BULLETS.

WOMEN HAD TO FLY BECAUSE ALL MALE PILOTS WENT OVERSEAS.

AS SOON AS THEY FINISH TRAINING SOMETIMES AND ONLY 2 TO 3 MONTHS.

THE TRAINING CALLED FOR A CRUISE WITH MALE PILOTS TO DROP DUMMY BOMBS LIKE THIS ONE ON AND HAVE A GOOD BARRIER ISLANDS PLAYING THE SOMETIMES DROPPING LIVE BOMBS ON RANGES OR IN THE EVERGLADES.

MATT JOHNSON SAYS CRASHES WERE COMMON BOTH ON LAND AND IN THE WATER.

>> UP IN TAMPA BAY, THE BE 26 WAS NICKNAME WANT TODAY IN TAMPA BAY BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY ACCIDENTS THAT WERE HAPPENING.

ALSO HAD THE NICKNAME OF WIDOW MAKER.

>> JOHNSON SAYS BOMBERS CRASHED IN THE GULF IN ONE CRASH.

6 MEN FROM DIFFERENT STATES DIED OFF SHORE DUE TO MECHANICAL FAILURE.

2 BODIES WERE RECOVERED AS A TIME AND THIS COUPLE PROPELLER WAS BROUGHT UP BY DIVE CREWS THAT CAGE AFTER THE WAR OVERSEAS, THE DEATH TOLL FOR PILOTS AND CREW WAS HIGH.

>> AS MANY AS TWO-THIRDS OF THEM DID NOT COME HOME WHEN THEY WENT ON A BOMBING RUN OVER GERMANY AND IT WAS COMMON FOR ENTIRE SQUADRONS NOT TO RETURN.

>> SLOWLY OVER TIME.

AMERICAN AIR POWER DESTROYED FACTORIES AND FUEL REFINERIES IN GERMANY AND JAPAN EFFECTIVELY DECIDING THE WAR IN THE ALLIES FAVOR TO HEAR THE STORIES OF.

>> JUST THE NOT ONLY THE BRAVERY BUT THE GRIT THAT IT REQUIRED.

SO, YEAH, IT IS AN EMOTIONAL THING WHEN YOU REALLY LOOK AT THE HUMAN TOLL AND THE THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE THAT WON THE WAR AND MANY WAYS.

>> PAGE FIELD RETURNED TO CIVILIAN STATUS WHEN THE WAR ENDED, BUCKINGHAM WAS ABANDONED.

BUT LATER REVIVED HIS LEE COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL HEADQUARTERS.

THE ORIGINAL CHAPEL WAS TAKEN APART.

BRICK BY BRICK TRANSPORTED TO FORT MYERS AND THE BREC'S RELAYED TO BUILD SAINT JOHN FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

IT STANDS TO THIS DAY IN THE DUNBAR COMMUNITY PEOPLE LIKE OSCAR CORBEN A GUNNERY INSTRUCTOR CAME BACK TO FORT MYERS.

HE WAS ELECTED MAYOR AND THE CITY HALL IS NAMED FOR CORDOBA AND EVE MARKING THEM OR YOU'RE A SPECIAL EVENT STATION NOW TAKING CHECK AND VETERAN BRIAN DARLIE OF THE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB SAYS WE MUST REMEMBER THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.

>> ITS HEART, IT LEAVES A LUMP IN YOUR THROAT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW MANY TRAINED IN HOW MANY DID NOT MAKE IT BACK.

>> THE CITY OF FORT MYERS PUT UP A STATUE IN CENTENNIAL PARK, HONORING THE BRAVE WHO HELPED SAVE THE LAND OF THE FREE >> WHEN PEOPLE MOVE DOWN HERE, EVEN IF THEY THINK THIS IS JUST A PART OF THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA STORY, IT'S NOT IT'S IT'S ALSO PART OF THE AMERICAN STORY.

AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE AMERICAN STORY THAT WE CONTINUE TO TELL AND PRESERVE AND PROTECT.

WITH PHOTOGRAPHER AMANDA WHITTAMORE FOR WGCU NEWS, IM MIKE WALCHER.

>> YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT AMERICA'S INVOLVEMENT IN WORLD WAR 2 AS PART OF A LIMITED TIME EXHIBIT ON DISPLAY AT THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM AND COHEN EDUCATION CENTER IN NAPLES.

81 YEARS AFTER THE SURRENDER OF NOT TO GERMANY, THE STORIES AND IMAGES THAT WERE CAPTURED DURING THE CAMPAIGN STILL RESONATE TODAY.

WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE HAS MORE.

>> FOR MORE ON THE NEW EXHIBIT CAUGHT ON FILM THE WAR TIME PHOTOGRAPHY OF CAN REGULATE AND THE U.S.

ARMY SIGNAL CORPS.

I'M JOINED BY CODY RADA MAKER, CURATOR OF THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM AND COHEN EDUCATION CENTER IN NAPLES, MR.

AUTO MAKER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET SO THIS NEW EXHIBIT LOOKS TO GIVE VISITORS BEHIND THE SCENE.

LOOK AT THE ALLIED EFFORTS ON THE WESTERN FRONT DURING WORLD WAR.

2.

SO HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT BUILDING A CURATION OVER DURATION OF THE ENTIRE CONFLICT?

ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL MOMENTS THAT YOU HAD TO FOCUS ON DURING BUILDING THIS DISPLAY?

>> WHEN IT COMES TO OF THIS COLLECTION IN PARTICULAR, WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT IT IS A UNIQUE COLLECTION AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY COMPILED FROM MULTIPLE PHOTOGRAPHERS FROM D-DAY TO THE END OF WORLD WAR 2 EFFECTIVELY, INCLUDING SOME IMAGES LIKE MUGSHOTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD LATER BE TRIED IN WHAT WERE CALLED THE NUREMBERG TRIALS WHERE THE INTERNATIONAL MILITARY TRIBUNAL, WHICH WAS THE FIRST BIG ONE.

SO FORTUNATELY, KEN, HOW EVERY CAME TO ACQUIRE THIS COLLECTION OF PHOTOS.

I SUSPECT HE GOT IT FROM OF HIS FRIENDS IN THE SIGNAL CORPS, JUST BROADLY BECAUSE HE WAS ACTUALLY A FILM.

THE FILM FOR TO LIKE ACTUAL MOTION PICTURE PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE ARMY.

SO I BELIEVE THEY ACTUALLY CURATED FOR HIM.

SO IT BECAME MORE MAKING SURE WE HIT KEY POINTS IN THE WAR RATHER THAN HAVING 2 REALLY PICK AND CHOOSE FROM 1939.

TO 45 OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT WAS MORE ACTUALLY FROM THE DAY BERG EFFECTIVELY.

SO IT WAS MORE OF MAKING SURE WE HIT KEY POINTS AND FOUND POIGNANT IMAGES WITHIN A 200 PLUS PHOTO COLLECTION.

SO THAT WAS TRICKY.

BUT IT WAS VERY SATISFYING.

AND I THINK WE DID A GOOD JOB.

>> AND SO THE MAN BEHIND THE EXHIBIT CAN READ L.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED THAT HE WORKED WITH THESE SIGNAL CORPS TO GET >> PHOTOS BECAUSE HE WAS PRIMARY LEE, A VIDEOGRAPHER AT THE TIME OUT THERE.

SO DID HE SERVE AND CAPTURE THIS THROUGH?

START TO FINISH.

WAS HE OUT DURING THE ENTIRE DURATION OF AMERICA'S INVOLVEMENT IN WORLD WAR 2, WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HIM?

>> THE BIG THING TO KNOW ABOUT KEN IS THAT HE WAS DOING A VERY UNIQUE ASPECT AND SOMETHING PEOPLE REALLY DON'T THINK ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO CONFLICT, WHICH IS DOCUMENTING THE CONFLICT AS SOMEONE WHO WAS RUNNING AROUND WITH A JEEP NAMED AFTER HIS WHAT HIS FUTURE WIFE, OF PEORIA, KHAN HIMSELF WAS ACTUALLY HAD A BELL AND HOWELL CAMERA AND WAS TAKING FOOTAGE, WHICH THEN HE WOULD TAKE BACK TO LIKE MOBILE DEVELOPING STATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THEY COULD TAKE THE FOOTAGE AND THE DOCUMENTATION AND SEND IT BACK TO LIKE SUPREME HEADQUARTERS OF THE ALLIED FORCES.

AND IT GOT SO RISKY THAT PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY GIVEN SILVER STARS FOR THE RISKS.

THEY TOOK TO DOCUMENT THEIR WORK DURING THE CONFLICT WAS A WAS A BIG CHALLENGE.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NOT REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT.

>> AND THEN THIS IS NOT A PERMANENT FIXTURE AT THE MUSEUM.

SO HOW LONG DO HISTORY LOVERS HAVE TO COME?

CHECK OUT THIS AMAZING EXHIBIT.

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE PLANNING UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER OR ROUGHLY 2 SHOULD IN SEPTEMBER OR EARLY OCTOBER THAT WERE PLANNED BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IT IN EXHIBIT COMING IN FOR A COUPLE MONTHS BEFORE THE NEXT MAJOR EXHIBIT INJURY IN JANUARY.

SO IT SHOULD BE IN OCTOBER.

SO PLEASE, WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU.

COME IN, LEARN THE STORY AND LEARN ABOUT THE SIGNAL CORPS AND SEE THE KIND OF WORK THAT OUR TROOPS WERE DOING TO HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND AND ULTIMATELY CREATE A VISUAL RECORD OF THE WAR FOR US.

WELL, CAUGHT ON FILM THE WAR TIME PHOTOGRAPHY.

>> OF KEN RUDEL AND THE U.S.

ARMY SIGNAL CORPS ON DISPLAY NOW AT THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM, COHEN EDUCATION CENTER, MR.

ADAM BAKER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

THIS HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.

>> SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ITS HISTORY ISN'T RELEGATED TO MUSEUM EXHIBITS.

THE FEDERAL BUILDING IN FORT MYERS DISPLACE A MASSIVE MURAL, BRINGING SOME OF THE AREAS EARLY HISTORY TO LIFE AS WGCUS BRYANT MONTEILH EXPLAINS THE ARTIST WANTED TO SHINE THE LIGHT ON PART OF OUR HISTORY.

MANY WOULD PREFER TO KEEP HIDDEN.

BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS.

>> I WAS INTERESTED IN DOING NOT THE INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY.

I WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN.

WHAT WERE THE UNTOLD STORIES ARE THE STORIES OF THE AND ARE REPRESENTING AND PEOPLE OF THE PEOPLE WHOSE STORIES WHO ARE REPRESSED A SUPPRESSED RENOWNED PUBLIC ARTIST PHOTOGRAPHER AND PROFESSOR BARBARA JO REEVELL COMPLETED THIS EMPOWERING WORK OF ART.

>> COMPOSED OF SMALL CERAMIC TILE IN 1999.

THE MURAL TITLED FORT MYERS, AN ALTERNATIVE HISTORY IS LOCATED ON THE EASTERN FACE OF THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS.

RAVEL EXPLAINS THE PROCESS BEFORE THE ARTWORK WAS MADE AT THE TIME FOR MYERS WAS >> REGARDED AS I DON'T KNOW.

IF YOU WANT TO SAY RACIST, BUT A PLACE WHERE THERE WAS A SO BIG SEPARATION BETWEEN.

AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE LIVE DOWN, WHY PEOPLE LIVED IT.

IT WAS VERY DIVIDED.

>> BASED ON THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN STUDY AND ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN 1997 NAMED THE GREATER FORT MYERS AREA AS ONE OF THE MOST SEGREGATED IN THE SOUTH.

THE MURAL WAS COMMISSIONED IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE REPORT TO HELP QUELL THE DIVIDE.

THE MURAL HIGHLIGHTS A SMALL CONTINGENCY OF SOLDIERS WHO DEFENDED AND SAVE THE FORT AGAINST CONFEDERATES DURING THE BATTLE OF FORT MYERS ON FEBRUARY.

20TH.

HEY, TEAM 65 REBEL SAYS THAT HER MISSION 40 SOME EURO WAS THE SHOW A PART OF FORT MYERS HISTORY.

THAT MANY MAY NOT HAVE SEEN OR HEARD BEFORE.

HE UNDERSTANDS THE POWER OF ART AND HOW IT CAN CAPTURE THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF PEOPLE.

ALSO COMMISSION.

THEY'RE THE SAME TIME THE STATUTE KNOWN AS CLAYTON, A CIVIL WAR MEMORIAL THAT FEATURES A LIFE-SIZE BRONZE STATUE OF A SERGEANT IN THE UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS.

SECOND REGIMENT, FORMER COLLEGE PROFESSOR AND COMMUNITY ACTIVIST DOVER KIMBALL SPEARHEADED THE MAKING OF THE MONUMENT.

THE MURAL SHOWS THE DIVERSITY OF THE CULTURE HERE.

WE BUILT THIS MONUMENT AS A SENSE OF PRIDE PRIMARILY FOR THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SOMEWHERE HERE.

THE MURAL ALSO RECOGNIZES SEMINOLE CHIEF BILLY BOWLEGS WOMEN AND CHILDREN FROM HIS TRIBE AND THE STEAMBOAT THAT SHIP THEM FROM THIS AREA OF FLORIDA TO STATES LIKE ARKANSAS AND OKLAHOMA.

FORT MYERS WAS ONCE A BOOMING PLACE FOR CATTLE AND TO THE RAILROAD WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE TOWN IN 19.

0, 4 AS DOCUMENTED IN THE OUR WORK, A CONTROVERSIAL PART OF THE MURAL IS THE IMAGE THAT REPRESENTS THE STAR.

CADE WERE SLAVES WORKERS WHO BUILT THE FORT WERE PUNISHED.

>> IT WAS NOT CONTROVERSIAL THAT THEY USE THE STOCKADE.

DEFINITELY.

AND A TIME WHEN THEY BUILT THE FORT AND IT WAS TO GET THE SEMINOLES OUT OF THE STATE.

SO HAVING A STACK CAIN.

WITH PEOPLE IN IT THAN SCENE.

>> AND OUTRAGEOUS IMAGE TO PUT THEIR IF YOU ARE TRYING TO TALK ABOUT.

>> THE UNDERBELLY ARE THE REALITIES OF THAT KIND OF A HISTORY BECAUSE OF THE CONTROVERSY.

THE MURAL WAS AND CELEBRATED OUR DEDICATED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS REVELLE LOOKS ON THE ART THAT STILL STANDS TODAY.

SHE'S PROUD OF THE WORK SHE'S DONE TO HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THOSE WHO SEE AND EXPERIENCE ITS TOWER.

>> WHEN PRESIDENTS I MEAN, I DEFINITELY AND TEARS.

AND LAST ONE OF US THEN BECAUSE I COULDN'T BELIEVE THEN WHEN TURNOUT, IT'S THIS.

WELL, RIGHT?

THERE WASN'T A DEDICATION ON ON THAT.

THAT I KNEW AND I DIDN'T YOU KNOW, I'LL PUT STANDS FOR LA ANOTHER LEAST 30, 40 YEARS IS SOMETHING IN PEOPLE KIND OF KEEP PRESERVING IT.

AND LOOKING AT REMEMBERING WHAT I HOPED IT A NUN.

>> A WORK OF ART OFTEN SYMBOLIZES WHAT WAS AN WHO CAME BEFORE IT CAN AFFECT CHANGE, IGNITE A SENSE OF PRIDE AND HAS THE POWER TO MOVE AND UNITE US ALL FOR WGCU NEWS, IM BRYANT MONTEILH.

>> IN HIS OWN REMEMBRANCE OF THE SOLDIERS WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN 18, PRESIDENT JAMES GARFIELD, ADDRESS THE NATION BY SAYING WE DO NOT KNOW ONE PROMISE THESE MEN MADE ONE PLEDGE.

THEY GAVE ONE WORD.

THEY SPOKE.

BUT WE DO KNOW THEY SUMMED UP AND PERFECTED BY ONE SUPREME ACT, THE HIGHEST VIRTUES OF MEN AND CITIZENS.

MORE THAN 160 YEARS AGO, THE SOUTHERNMOST LAND BATTLE IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR TOOK PLACE RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THE BATTLE OF FORT MYERS SAW A SMALL CAVALCADE OF UNION SOLDIERS DEFEND THEIR BASE FROM ENCROACHING CONFEDERATE TROOPS.

WGCUS MIKE WALCHER SHARES THAT STORY.

>> THE LIBRARY ON SANIBEL ISLAND, A SPOT AS FAR REMOVED, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE FROM THE BATTLEFIELDS OF THE 18 60'S WHEN SHAFFER IS A LIBRARY PROGRAM.

DIRECTOR AND HAPPENS TO BE AN AUTHORITY ON THE SOUTHERNMOST BATTLE OF THE CIVIL WAR.

>> IT WAS SIGNIFICANT IN THAT I I FEEL THAT IT WAS REALLY AND THE BIRTH OF FORT MYERS PROPER.

>> THE IMAX HISTORY AND SCIENCE MUSEUM OFFERS A VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE OF EARLY FORT MYERS.

SO MUCH STUFF INSIDE TO SEE LIFE AS IT WAS IN 18.

65.

THE FORT WAS ON THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER AND HAD OFFICERS QUARTERS WITH TEMPS IN BARRACKS FOR ENLISTED SOLDIERS.

THERE WAS A GENERAL STORE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY UP HERE AND LARGE WHARF TO LOAD CATTLE ON THE BOAT NORTH AND SOUTH.

FINALLY FORCIER BECAUSE >> THE BATTLE FOR MYERS WAS FOUGHT.

>> OVER COWS, FLORIDA HAD CATTLE WATCH OF THEM AND CONFEDERATES WERE SENDING THE BEEF NORTH.

2 UNITS STILL FIGHTING IN VIRGINIA, BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL UNION TROOPS FROM FORT MYERS STARTED RATING NEARBY FARMS.

UNION SOLDIERS LOADED STOLEN CATTLE ON TO SHIPS AT THE DOCK AND SENT THE BEEF TO NORTHERN TROOPS.

THIS CATTLE RUSTLING UPSET.

THE SOUTHERN COMMANDERS.

>> IT CAME TO THE POINT WHERE THEY COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE WITH THE UNION DISRUPTING THE CATTLE TRADE SO THEY SENT A FORCE OF ABOUT 10200 GUYS.

THEY MARSHALED AROUND PRESENT-DAY LABELLE.

>> THE CONFEDERATES CALLED THEMSELVES THE CATTLE GUARD OR COW CAVALRY.

THEY MARCHED TO AROUND HERE BUILDINGS, CREEK ON THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY.

20TH 18.

65.

THEY ENCOUNTERED SOME TICKETS ARE GUARDS AND TOOK THEM PRISONER.

THEN THEY RAN INTO ANOTHER SOLDIER, A BLACK MAN, POSSIBLY A FORMER SLAVE WHO HAD JOINED THE UNION ARMY.

A GUNFIGHT FOLLOWED.

THE SOLDIER WAS KILLED.

NOBODY HAS FOUND A DEFINITE RECORD OF HIS NAME.

A BIG CANNON WAS AIMED AT THE FORT BEND CONFEDERATES, DEMANDED SURRENDER.

THE UNION COMMANDER REFUSED THE FORD HAD AT LEAST 2 CANONS AND THEY BLASTED CONFEDERATE LINES.

RECORDS 6 TO 8 HOUR BATTLE THE CAL CALVARY TALKED ABOUT RUSHING THE FORT, BUT THEN DECIDED IT WOULD BE WISER TO JUST LEAVE.

>> AS THE CONFEDERATES RETREATED BACK UP TO PRESENT DAY LABELLE, A UNION CAVALRY PATROL FOLLOWED THEM AND THEY FOUND A LOT OF BANDAGES SPLINTS, STRETCHERS.

SO THEY FIGURED THAT THE CONFEDERATES GOT HURT PRETTY BADLY.

>> GOING SCHAFFER SAYS HIS ANCESTORS FROM MARYLAND FOUGHT FOR BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH AND SOME DISAPPEAR ALMOST CERTAINLY AMONG THE DEAD.

HE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT NEW HAMPSHIRE'S ROLE IN THE WAR AND HE BELIEVES THE BATTLE OF FORT MYERS HAS MEANING.

>> I WOULD JUST SAY THE STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE OF THE UNION TROOPS.

THEY DIDN'T SURRENDER.

THEY DIDN'T GIVE IN TO THE CONFEDERATE.

>> WEEKS AFTER THE BATTLE UNION TROOPS ABANDON FORT MYERS, THE WAR ENDED WITH CONFEDERATE GENERAL ROBERT E LEE'S SURRENDER IN EARLY APRIL 18.

65.

WHY THEN?

SHOULD WE KNOW OR CARE ABOUT THIS?

NOW?

>> IF IT'S NOT REMEMBERED, IF IT'S NOT, THE VETERANS ARE NOT HONORED.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE LOST IN THE MISTS OF TIME AND WE LOSE TRACK WITH THAT TO STUDY THE BATTLES OF THE PAST.

IT'S TO UNDERSTAND THE FUTURE AND WHAT COULD HAPPEN.

>> THE BATTLE HAD EFFECTS RIGHT AFTER THE WAR WOULD FROM THE BARRACKS AND OTHER BUILDINGS WAS USED TO CONSTRUCT THE FIRST POSTWAR HOMES IN 18.

87 WHEN IT CAME TIME TO INCORPORATE A COUNTY IN THE FORT MYERS AREA.

SUPPORTERS OF THE SELF ONCE AGAIN, AMERICAN, THE CITIZENS MADE SURE TO NAME IT AFTER ROBERT E LEE.

MORE RECENTLY THE CITY PUT UP A STATUE HONORING BLACK SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT HERE AND DEFENDED THE FORT.

THE FACES OF SOME OF THEM REMAIN ON ONE SIDE OF THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN FORT MYERS.

WITH PHOTOGRAPHER ANDREA MELENDEZ FOR AMERICA 250, AND WGCU NEWS, I'M MIKE WALCHER.

>> ALL OF OUR STORIES FROM TODAY'S PROGRAM ARE PART OF OUR CELEBRATION OF FLORIDA 250 AND ARE SPONSORED IN PART BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA THROUGH THE DIVISION OF ARTS AND CULTURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS WITH A FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME