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Floridian Jessica Porter had a passion for quilting,
and thought she could do some good by donating homemade quilts
to soldiers in Iraq. But when the teenager’s Mom suggested
sending the quilts to the families of deceased soldiers instead, “Operation
Homefront Quilts” was born. Now, together with a band
of quilting volunteers, Jessica helps bring solace to military
families with quilts that reflect their loved ones’ lives
and honor their sacrifice. New Florida travels to Hudson,
Florida to meet this extraordinary young woman.
Day by day, there are fewer of them left.
Fewer soldiers who remember storming the beach. Fewer survivors
who can recall the unholy terror, the adrenaline rush, and
the sheer exhaustion of the effort. But Jacksonville resident
Harold Baumgarten remembers. In fact, his memory of D-Day in
1944 is as clear as if he had stormed the beach at Normandy
only yesterday. New Florida hears
his story, and pays homage to the men who fought – and
died – around
him.
When it comes to landscaping, some guys
get a thrill out of driving a ride-on mower. Other guys get
a kick out of wielding a diesel-powered leaf blower. And
still others – well, at least one other – prefer
to while away the hours snipping tiny limbs from miniature
trees with a pair of household scissors. New
Florida meets Lui Rayon, a Floridian with a passion
for the Japanese art of bonsai.
When a loved one is at war, there’s
nothing quite like receiving a handwritten letter from him
or her. Sure, e-mail may be more immediate, but a letter
gives you something tangible to hold, to re-read, to cherish – a
permanent legacy to pass down to your children. That’s
why non-profit organizations like The
Legacy Project are helping to save – and even publish – letters
from wars past and present. New
Florida reads a few of these
touching missives and reminisces with the Floridians who
still treasure them decades after they were first composed.
It is a history that shames many Americans:
Native Americans slaughtered by the thousands; survivors
herded onto reservations like so much cattle. Here in Florida,
the U.S. government fought three 19th century wars against
the Seminole
Indians, and nearly succeeded in wiping them out. Now,
in honor of National
American Indian Heritage Month, New Florida tells
the tale of the remarkable resurgence of the Florida Seminoles.
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Stitching
Lives Back Together
