Yesterday was the Grand Opening of the Panama Canal Museum at University of Florida. Here I am standing by the Bust of Balboa; I donated the money for this case. The only way knowledge of life on the Panama Canal Zone will survive in the future is by this museum that we started in 1997 & turned it over to UF about 5 years ago. We grew it as volunteers & needed to get Government grants & forever life. Since UF has a huge Latin studies dept., they were our best partner. There was never & is now no life or civilization any where in the world like the Panama Canal Zone. We needed no passports, we could not vote and had no representative in Congress or the Senate, our governor was appointed by the Pres. of the U.S. every 4 years, we have a bond only known to blood relatives, we were like small town USA & yet there were thousands & thousands of people living on the Canal Zone, etc. & etc. My family is ingrained in it. My uncle helped build the Canal & received the Roosevelt Medal; my dad left Indiana & joined his oldest brother, (who was 25 years older than he), when he was 18 or 19 years old & worked for the U.S. Government for 37 years before retiring at 55 years. My mom was an RN and answered the call for help from Gorgas Hospital on the Canal Zone when she was in her mid to late 20s; she headed up a new born nursery in a large hospital in Washington DC when she left to go to Panama where she met my dad immediately at a bachelor party for all the new nurses who had arrived.
20 Comments
DEE JOBES PHOTOGRAPHY 15 Mar 2018
WOW,DEAR SHARON,SO VERY SORRY THAT I MISSED THIS VERY IMPORTANT AND BEAUTIFUL POST OF YOU AND YOUR AMAZING GREAT HERITAGE!!!YOU LOOK GREAT!!!THANKS FOR ALL THE GOOD AND GREAT THINGS THAT YOU ARE SO INSTRUMENTAL IN DOING!!!A FAV!!!DAVID&I WISH YOU A BEAUTIFUL DAY!!!HUGS...DEEJohn Cappello 30 Sep 2017
Hello Sharon You look Great and so HappY!michael farnham 07 May 2017
Congratulations Sharon looks like a very nice exhibit ,Michael Sutherland 16 Apr 2017
Keep up the Good Work, SharonVernonette Gaddy 09 Apr 2017
A gem of a picture Sharon, and thank you for sharing your important family information. :)Sigridur Bachmann 04 Apr 2017
Hi dear Sharon ! Great story ! I think you look a bit like him !Al Budarin 03 Apr 2017
Wonderfulyves colas 03 Apr 2017
great photos of you and bust.your family is wonderfull. you are very generous you too. all my compliments.GORDON OGILVIE 03 Apr 2017
Reading your history you come from a very very Proud and generous family Sharon,Balboa, He looks a very handsome Character.charles fraser 03 Apr 2017
Well doneDebra Kott 02 Apr 2017
FantasticLyle Kroll 02 Apr 2017
Looking fantastic as always, Sharon. Really enjoy seeing our smile. Makes my day. Glad you had a great day at the museum opening as well. :)Brenda Loveless 02 Apr 2017
And now your generous donation continues the legacy.Pamela Rivera 02 Apr 2017
Awesome :)James Anderson 02 Apr 2017
Neat! You look so lovely standing in front of the bust of Balboa!Julie Mayser 02 Apr 2017
Such a radiant smile, Sharon ! You are an important part of preserving memories of the Panama Canal Zone!Françoise Dénéréaz 02 Apr 2017
You look so happy and very elegant on these pictures !! Great photos Sharon !!!LAURIER Marie josé 02 Apr 2017
ALWAYS SMART DRESSED IN CHANEL SHARON AND . THIS IS HONOURABLE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PERPETUATE YOUR FAMILY'S WORK FOR THE PANAMA CANAL ..Joanie Holliday 02 Apr 2017
WHAT A GRAND JESTER MY FRIEND.. YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL AND SO VERY HAPPY. JOANIEmarie-claire gallet 02 Apr 2017
Gorgeous pictures of you and Balboa, Sharon !! You are always so radiant !!!!