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New page: thumb|right|280px|The cross on [[Pensacola Beach]] The '''Island Cross''' is a Pensacola Beach landmark that commemorates "the first <nowiki>[</nowiki...
[[Image:PensacolaBeachCross.jpg|thumb|right|280px|The cross on [[Pensacola Beach]]]]
The '''Island Cross''' is a [[Pensacola Beach]] landmark that commemorates "the first <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Wikipedia:Western religion|Western]]<nowiki>]</nowiki> religious service in the Pensacola area" (and [[America's First Settlement|by extension]] the United States) on [[August 15]], [[1559]], when Dominican friars with the [[Luna expedition]] performed a mass on [[Santa Rosa Island]] celebrating the [[Wikipedia:Assumption of Mary|Assumption of Mary]].
The 10-foot, cast concrete memorial was established in [[1959]]{{date uncertain}}<ref>See [[Talk:Island Cross|talk page]].</ref> by the [[Knights of Columbus, De Luna Assembly]]. About 100 people attended the dedication by [[Mobile]] Bishop [[Thomas J. Toolen]], but only a handful remained after a rainstorm sent most back to their vehicles. It was originally located on the north ([[Santa Rosa Sound|Sound]]) side of [[Fort Pickens Road]], but was later relocated to a sand dune on the south ([[Gulf of Mexico|Gulf]]) side.
In the 1960s, the cross became a meeting place for visitors to the beach. "That cross was there when I was in high school," recalled [[SRIA]] director [[W. A. "Buck" Lee]]. "When someone was saying, 'Let's meet at the beach,' we would say, 'See you at the cross.'"<ref>"Leaders will rededicate sign for cross at Pensacola Beach." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 14, 2006.</ref>
The cross and the dune on which it sits have withstood numerous [[hurricanes]] over the years, even as neighboring dunes and structures were swept away. This is cited by many religious residents as evidence of "divine protection."<ref>http://www.visitpensacola.com/beach2.html</ref> The commemorative marker, however, was did not survive [[Hurricane Ivan]] in [[2004]]. It was replaced by the Knights of Columbus and rededicated on [[August 15]], [[2006]].<ref>"Pensacola Beach icon rededicated, admired." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 16, 2006.</ref>
{{cquote|This cross has survived all the hurricanes. It is an inspiration of faith and hope that God will help us rebuild.|25px|25px|Former [[Escambia County Commission]]er [[Tom Banjanin]]}}
==Notes & references==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Catholicism]] [[Category:Folklore]] [[Category:Landmarks]] [[Category:Pensacola Beach]]
The '''Island Cross''' is a [[Pensacola Beach]] landmark that commemorates "the first <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Wikipedia:Western religion|Western]]<nowiki>]</nowiki> religious service in the Pensacola area" (and [[America's First Settlement|by extension]] the United States) on [[August 15]], [[1559]], when Dominican friars with the [[Luna expedition]] performed a mass on [[Santa Rosa Island]] celebrating the [[Wikipedia:Assumption of Mary|Assumption of Mary]].
The 10-foot, cast concrete memorial was established in [[1959]]{{date uncertain}}<ref>See [[Talk:Island Cross|talk page]].</ref> by the [[Knights of Columbus, De Luna Assembly]]. About 100 people attended the dedication by [[Mobile]] Bishop [[Thomas J. Toolen]], but only a handful remained after a rainstorm sent most back to their vehicles. It was originally located on the north ([[Santa Rosa Sound|Sound]]) side of [[Fort Pickens Road]], but was later relocated to a sand dune on the south ([[Gulf of Mexico|Gulf]]) side.
In the 1960s, the cross became a meeting place for visitors to the beach. "That cross was there when I was in high school," recalled [[SRIA]] director [[W. A. "Buck" Lee]]. "When someone was saying, 'Let's meet at the beach,' we would say, 'See you at the cross.'"<ref>"Leaders will rededicate sign for cross at Pensacola Beach." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 14, 2006.</ref>
The cross and the dune on which it sits have withstood numerous [[hurricanes]] over the years, even as neighboring dunes and structures were swept away. This is cited by many religious residents as evidence of "divine protection."<ref>http://www.visitpensacola.com/beach2.html</ref> The commemorative marker, however, was did not survive [[Hurricane Ivan]] in [[2004]]. It was replaced by the Knights of Columbus and rededicated on [[August 15]], [[2006]].<ref>"Pensacola Beach icon rededicated, admired." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 16, 2006.</ref>
{{cquote|This cross has survived all the hurricanes. It is an inspiration of faith and hope that God will help us rebuild.|25px|25px|Former [[Escambia County Commission]]er [[Tom Banjanin]]}}
==Notes & references==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Catholicism]] [[Category:Folklore]] [[Category:Landmarks]] [[Category:Pensacola Beach]]
