St. Augustine is set to celebrate the 506th birthday of its founder, Don Pedro Menendez de Avilés, with a public ceremony organized for Friday at 11:00 a.m. According to an announcement by the City of St. Augustine, residents and visitors are invited to join the wreath-laying event that will take place at the statue of Menendez in front of City Hall at 75 King Street.
The ceremony will feature a processional by members of the Historic Florida Militia and a reading of the City's proclamation by Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline. In a gesture of remembrance, the statue of Menendez will play host to the homage — a statue that is a replica of one located in Avilés, Spain, and given as a gift to St. Augustine in 1972. The public is welcome to witness this moment of pageantry as the city honors the man who established it on September 8, 1565.
Born on February 15, 1519, in Avilés, a port city in the Asturias region of Spain, Menendez went on to serve in the Spanish Navy during the reign of King Phillip II. His journey to Florida in 1565 was a counteraction to the French presence at Fort Caroline, leading to their defeat and to the establishment of St. Augustine. These historical achievements are preserved in the city's history and are celebrated every year.
The celebration takes place at Parque de Menendez, which was dedicated in a 1978 ceremony attended by the Spanish Ambassador to the United States. The site and statue serve as lasting reminders of the historical connection between Avilés and St. Augustine, highlighted through annual commemorations of the city’s heritage and the relationship between its people.
