Cannon fire Indian drums and pageantry at Mission

As he did 445 years ago, Admiral Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles made landfall adjacent to the Fountain of Youth at the site of Mission Nombre de Dios at the exact landing point of the Spanish colonists in 1565; and local Historic City News reporters were there.

Greeted by the sound of native Indian drums and the report of a battery of cannons across the bay, Don Pedro Menendez, portrayed by Chad Light of La Compania de Santiago, came ashore at the rustic altar overlooking the water on the grounds of the historic Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche.

The morning’s events were well attended by a mix of several hundred visitors and local residents who filled the Mission parking lot and spilled over to the adjoining streets. It almost appeared that everyone was either dressed in period costume or armed with a camera to photograph them.

There were official ceremonies including a proclamation read by Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline on behalf of the City of St. Augustine and a historical presentation by Dr. Bonnie G. McEwan, executive director of Mission San Luis in Tallahassee.

The crowds congregated for singing of sacred songs by the Cantorae St. Augustine as part of a Mass of Thanksgiving, celebrated by Bishop Victor Galeone at the mission’s outdoor altar — on the grounds where Father Lopez performed mass on the day of the City of St. Augustine’s birth.

A procession, including St. Augustine’s Royal Family and 16th century Spanish soldiers, assembled at the footbridge to give escort to the authentic outer casket of Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles.

The focal point of dedication and grand opening ceremonies for the new Mission Nombre de Dios Museum was the placement of the 400 year old artifact in its new resting place.

In related events today, at 4:45 p.m., the First Thanksgiving will be re-enacted on the grounds of the Fountain of Youth Archeological Park. The well-documented event occurred on this site on September 8, 1565 when Timucuas and Spaniards shared their food in a Feast of Thanksgiving. The re-enactment will include a cooking contest with entries limited to ingredients that would have been readily available on that date at that location. The public will be invited to sample the entries.

Photo credits: © 2010 Historic City News staff photographer