Wakulla Springs holds rich history for veterans

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Wakulla Springs is a popular destination for Floridians and tourists. It's currently known for its beauty, wildlife and swimming spots, but it was a much different scene in 1941. Soldiers from across the country came through and trained at Wakulla Springs, which was part of Camp Gordon Johnston.

Mike Horvath helps run the camp's museum in Carabelle, Florida.

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"They see the advertisements for beautiful, sunny beaches, lots of women, come down and have some fun," Horvath said. "They get here and they're in the North Florida swamps. But it was very valuable training for them."

Around 300,000 troops came through Wakulla Springs to train for the invasion of Normandy and battles in the Pacific.

Horvath and the Camp Gordon Johnston Association have dedicated themselves to recovering artifacts used by the soldiers who passed through the Panhandle county.

"Some of the stuff we have is just priceless," Horvath said. "We have letters from the sons to mom, to the girlfriends, to their wives."

Down the road from where thousands of soldiers trained, many of the same men and women were honored Wednesday, along with other Florida veterans outside the state's Capitol.

Florida's Veterans Foundation unveiled bricks in the Walk of Honor, which serves as a constant reminder of the men and women from Florida who served our country.