Why Repairing, Restoring and keeping the Legacy of Central academy is Important!

The teachers at Central Academy School (the first Black Accredited High School in Florida) were not just there for a paycheck! The teachers brought out the best out in the students (even during a racist and prejudicial era) they had a strong genuine desire which created a sheer will to produce the best type of student possible. 

I would often hear my mom (Lorene F. Bell) and my aunt (Irene Greene) who was original alumni of Central Academy talk about the School and its teachers. Central Academy School was not only the first Black Accredited High School, but its students, and excellent teachers (about 18 with master degrees) produced championship basketball and football teams, award-winning bands, and many community leaders! 

 One of those community leaders was a hero: He was Robert H. Jenkins, Jr., who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in March 1969, was born 1 June 1948, in Interlachen, Florida. He attended Oak Grove Elementary School from 1955 until 1963, and Central Academy High School from 1963 until 1967 in Palatka, Florida.
Mr. Robert H. Jenkins. Jenkins was a great example of the traits and characteristics (personality/type of student, level of integrity and scope of morals) that Central academy instilled and taught! 
Quality education instilling positive, lasting qualities and character (along with his home upbringing) resulted in this top notch Marine who saved many. He died at the young age of 20 years old, he gave his life serving his country. See source below: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_H._Jenkins,_Jr.

The Medal of Honor is the United States of America's highest military honor, awarded for personal acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. The medal is awarded by the President of the United States in the name of the U.S. Congress to U.S. military personnel only. 

 For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Marine Gunner with Company C, Third Reconnaissance Battalion, Third Marine Division in connection with operations against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam.

 Early on the morning of 5 March 1969, Private First Class Jenkins' twelve-man reconnaissance team was occupying a defensive position at Fire Support Base Argonne south of the Demilitarized Zone. Suddenly, the Marines were assaulted by a North Vietnamese Army platoon employing mortars, automatic weapons, and hand grenades. Reacting instantly, Private First Class Jenkins and another Marine quickly moved into a two-man fighting emplacement, and as they boldly delivered accurate machine gun fire against the enemy, a North Vietnamese soldier threw a hand grenade into the friendly emplacement. 

Fully realizing the inevitable results of his action, Private First Class Jenkins quickly seized his comrade, and pushing the man to the ground, he leaped on top of the Marine to shield him from the explosion. Absorbing the full impact of the detonation, Private First Class Jenkins was seriously injured and subsequently succumbed to his wounds. His courage, inspiring valor and selfless devotion to duty saved a fellow Marine from serious injury or possible death and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Jenkins also had the “Jenkins Middle School” located on the North Side of Palatka named after him in his honor. I went to that school myself as a child.)

There is also a memorial Park in Interlachen Florida named in his honor!

Sources:

http://web.archive.org/web/20070222175651/http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/000003c919889c0385255fa4005f789d?OpenDocument

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_H._Jenkins,_Jr.

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Man of God 335

(Coming Soon) More Central Academy Examples