February 18, 2025 · 9:07 pm
For half a century this bust sat in entrance of the Key West airport greeting its cloud-bound patrons. So who’s it, what did it commend and the place is it now? Inquiring minds what to know, so I set out on a quest in pursuit of solutions.
I’ve been to the Key West Worldwide airport many instances by no means setting sight on this statue. In seeing this historic photograph I went again out to the airport to see it myself questioning how on the earth I might have missed it. On my third try find this, we parked the automotive and walked throughout the brand new parking storage that now sits in entrance of the airport roughly the place the statue ought to have been to no avail. We then requested a safety guard if he knew something in regards to the lacking bust… pausing a second he responded “There’s some busts up within the departure terminal.” Off we went and positive sufficient we discovered it. It had been moved years in the past and introduced inside for outgoing passenger to see earlier than leaving Key West.
Upon the bronze plaque it reads: “The county of Monroe, state of Florida renders this tribute to Agustín Parlá Orduña born in Key West on October 11, 1887, of Cuban mother and father exiled throughout their nation’s battle for independence. Who was the primary man to fly the 119 miles over the ocean from Key West, Florida to El Mariel, Cuba on Could 19, 1913. Honor to his reminiscence.” Devoted manner again in July 4, 1957.
It could have taken me 3 journeys to seek out the lacking bust, you alternatively now have first hand data on precisely the place to seek out it… what are you ready for… GO! 🙂