When you bop around the stunningly white beaches of Perdido Key, you’ll see some signs about
the “lost” island or “lost” bay. Here’s your Spanish lesson for the day: perdido means lost.
park tucked into the middle of the Key, plus
the entire east end — a full eight miles of the
16-mile-long island — is the Johnson Beach
National Seashore. The beach is named in honor
of local Army Private Rosamond Johnson, Jr.,
who finagled his way into the army at age 15,
only to be killed two years later in 1950 during
the Korean War. Johnson was the first African
American soldier to die in the war and was
posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for
his wounds sustained while saving two soldiers
during battle and dying trying to save a third.
A heartstrings-tugging commemoration is held
every May, with Johnson’s family members in
attendance.
For boaters, fishers, kayakers, snorkelers,
swimmers, bird watchers, hikers, campers and
all-around nature lovers, these parks and miles
of secluded beaches offer a glimpse into the
past and, thankfully, are preserved for the future.
Big Lagoon State Park
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