Everglades National Park Ranger Leon Howell will discuss the Cold War, Cuban Missile Crisis, and the deployment and service of Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery in Everglades National Park.
He will be speaking during the Bea Peskoe Lunchtime Lecture series presentation at noon on Monday, Apr. 6, in the Pioneer Room of 1st National Bank of South Florida at 1550 N. Krome Ave. in Homestead. The Pioneer Room is on the third floor. Handicapped access is very good, but seating is limited so come early.
Learn about the HM-69 Nike Missile Base inside ENP. It was constructed after the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis to replace a mobile capability just outside the park. The Nike missile was a ground to air missile capable of destroying attacking enemy aircraft with nuclear and nonnuclear warheads. These same missiles protected many U.S. cities with permanent installations. The site was mothballed in 1979
Leon, who recently was featured in a New York Times article about the same topic as this presentation, is a retired Coast Guard Commander with 24 years of service. He has conducted eco boat and fishing tours on park waters, and since 2005 has been a seasonal park ranger at Everglades.
A simple lunch will be available for $10 beginning at 11:30 a.m. by reservation only. Call Barbara at 305-230-9185 before 2 p.m. on Friday, Apr. 3.
Homestead Center for the Arts presents this series named for the late Bea Peskoe who was an advocate for social justice, education and culture. The presentation is open to the public free of charge.
