The original idea of this was the brainchild of one of the volunteers that we worked with this year Laura Marquardt from northern Wisconsin. We were able to pick the era and character that we wanted to portray. Fred had an obvious choice...a Nike missile soldier from the 1960's
It doesn't seem like a hard choice, but we had to find a uniform from that era. On one of our days off, we searched most of the Army Surplus stores in the Miami-Dade area. There were a few places I wasn't sure if I would be safer in the store or in the truck to make sure it didn't get stolen. Fred always had me stay in the truck!!! We did find a uniform that fit the era, but did not quite fit Fred (maybe next year...). Then came the next step, finding the patches that were appropriate. We were lucky to find the rank patches at the dry cleaners at Homestead Air Force Base. The seamstress had a bag of old patches that she had removed from uniforms when a soldier got promoted. We found 2 Spec 4 patches there. The other patches, Fred found by calling other bases. So his uniform was complete. 
During Vintage Day Fred 'hung out' on the trail with another soldier, Bob Layman who actually did work at the Nike site in Key Largo. Bob still had his original uniform and it fit! They portrayed two soldiers who were off duty and having some fun on the trail watching the wildlife.The idea for my character took alittle more thought and planning. After much discussion, it was decided that I would be a 'Hat Shoppe Owner' in order to show how plumes from the Everglades birds were used as a fashion statement.
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One evening the women got together at the chickee (screened enclosed pavilion) and made miniature hats that I could "sell" in my shop. The hats actually looked very good!!
I then had to figure out how to make the shelter on the trail look like a hat shop.
I must say, given the fact that I have no artistic ability I think it turned out quite well!!
There were all aspects of the Everglades represented here from the sleazy land developer.
Reenacted by Everglades National Park's Superintendent Dan Kimball (dig the boots!!).
To Marjory Stoneman Douglas the author of "The River of Grass" and the mother of the Everglades
and Ernest Coe the father of the Everglades.
We also had the more colorful characters like Hayley (aka the Nike Intern who we worked with) who was a plume hunter.
Linda who portrayed John James Audubon
Tom Marquart who not only made the glades boat, but was the gladesman with the alligator skins. And yes the boat did float.
To Eric, our very scary Warden.
One added touch this year was representatives from the Native American community
This was the Turtle Women. She is a descendant of the Calusa Indians the first native Indian's of Florida.
This was Jumper Osceola who is a Seminole Indian.
It was a lot of work, but we did enjoy ourselves and everyone who came and saw the event seemed pleased with it.
