Annual Commemoration of Private Rosamond Johnson at Johnson Beach
On May 7th, I had the opportunity to attend the Annual Commemoration of Private Rosamond Johnson at Johnson Beach which is part of Gulf Islands National Seashore on Perdido Key.
A Day of Celebration for Private Rosamond Johnson
Here are some photos of the event on May 7th, 2022. If you are interested, below I have included the backstory of Pvt. Johnson and how the beach was named Johnson Beach in his honor.
Why we honor Private Rosamond Johnson Jr.
Johnson enlisted in the U.S. Army at 15 and died in combat two years later after saving two wounded soldiers, and trying to save a third on the Korean Peninsula.
At the time of Johnson’s death, Pensacola beaches were racially segregated. The eastern end of Perdido Key was a place where black citizens could enjoy the beauty and recreational opportunities of the beach and the Gulf.
After the Korean Conflict, the county-owned recreational area was renamed to honor its fallen hero.
The area became part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore on May 8, 1973. A permanent monument in his honor was erected to illustrate the inequities of access to public beaches by people of color and the service of Johnson on June 10, 1996.
For the past decade, the Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce has invited the Johnson Family, local and national dignitaries, and the public to the beach to honor the memory of this local hero.
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