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JAA Dedicates Pavilion To James Craig

Kevin Meerschaert

A Jacksonville native who was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor was honored in a ceremony Friday morning.

Local officials and descendants of James Edwin Craig dedicated a pavilion at the airport which bears his name, Jacksonville Executive at Craig Airport.

Craig was killed while securing his ship, the U.S.S. Pennsylvania.

His daughter, Anne Craig Beere, thanked the airport for the honor, and remembered her experiences of the day her father was killed.

"Mother knew that sound of the firing guns on December 7th was return fire not practice fire." Beere said. "She took steps to see we were as safe as possible close to an interior wall away from the windows for fear of flying glass, the original duck and cover."

Credit Kevin Meerschaert
The plaque in the pavilion named for James Craig.

  At the dedication ceremony the Jacksonville Aviation Authority presented the Greater Jacksonville USO with a $2,000 donation.

The money was raised at 5K run held on the airport’s runway last month. The funds will be used to enhance the USO center at Jacksonville International Airport that serves active and retired military.         

Kevin Meerschaert has left WJCT for new pursuits. He was the producer of First Coast Connect until October of 2018.