Thursday, April 11, 2013

La Florida First Day of Issue



 April 3, 2013 was the 500th anniversary of the landing at "la Florida" by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon.

 While serving as provincial Governor of Puerto Rico, de Leon took three ships and 200 men to explore a rumored island to the west.
When they landed in April at what is now St. Augustine, 
springtime flowers were abundant.
They called this land la Florida (the Flowers) 
or Pascua Florida (Easter Flowers).
It is believed he was searching for the mystical Fountian of Youth.
Wednesday April 3rd 2013, St. Augustine welcomed the public and dignitaries from the State of Florida for Anniversary celebrations.
 

  
Anniversary events included historic re-enactments of the landing.
 
 
 
Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner, US Senator Bill Nelson, and representatives from the US Postal Service joined the festivities in America's Oldest City to unveil America's Newest Forever Postage Stamps.