May
On April 30th was inaugurated the Historic Center of Santa Elena in Beaufort, North Carolina, bringing to a successful end the efforts of a group of American citizens who love Spanish culture and the legacy left by the Crown of Spain in that area of the country.
The most prominent members of the community and the State senator, the consul of Spain in Miami and the military attaché in the United States, as well as numerous Americans and Spaniard descendants, joined the president of the Santa Elena Foundation on this occasion.
The emotional opening ceremony corroborates the enthusiasm and interest of the American people to recover the history of the 16th century, which is also known as the "lost century".
Pedro Menendez de Aviles and a group of Spaniards, made Santa Elena the capital of Florida in the year 1566, in the same place that today is called Port Royal. Our National Flag fluttered there until 1582.
In the same place where illustrious historians and archaeologists try now to recover the common legacy, lies a plaque with the following text:
"In respectful tribute to the memory of those Spaniards who left their mark here between 1566 and 1587 while in quest of their country's glory, and in grateful recognition to the distinguished Americans who today, with their work, pay homage to the memory of those heroes and the history shared by the two nations, Spain and United States of America.”
The Knights of the Ocean Sea Order
Santa Elena, October 12th 1982
