History Of JW's in Corpus Christi Review

I chose to review this website because it is a topic that I have a personal connection to as a Jehovah Witness. I was very touched and pleased with the website because it taught me things about JW's in Corpus Christi that I did not know before. I didn't even know that the Brawner Hall was the first hall in Corpus Christi and I go there. What I liked the most about the website was the section on segregation because it displayed the true love brothers and sisters had for each other reguardless of race or regardless of what laws or even other people said was the norm. I was touched by seeing all the progress  JW's have made in Corpus  because it reminded me that although sometimes our efforts may seem fruitless they are not. This website for me was very beneficial and I loved how you can truly see the love and appreciation the creator has for the topic.

Corpus Christi Surf History Review

I chose to review Madelyn's project because I was interested in discovering the revelance of surfing in Corpus Christi, and I must say that I was quite pleased with what I learned from the website. The website displayed how surfing has evolved since it's beginning in the 1950s and 1960s, and also how the culture of surfing has been stereotyped by other  surfing states in the U.S.. Surfing in Corpus Christi is very unique than surfing in other states because it teaches surfers to learn how to  surf in any types of conditions which in the long run makes them work harder and be better surfers than if they lived in any other surfing state. I really enjoyed the person opinion the creator of the website included because it showed her personal connection and appreciation for the topic while also spurring an interest in surfing for the viewer.

Reflection

I'm not quite sure if my mind is capable of describing what I learned through this project or even how I feel about it, but this is my attempt at doing so. I must say that doing the research for this project and putting it together was a stressful yet beautiful experience. The greatest part of it all for me was being able to hear what it was like in Corpus Christi during WWII first hand from those people who lived through it. Their experiences, the details, and emotions they express are far beyond more beneficial and touching than any textbook could be, and it is their stories that I will truly remember. I guess I can say this project gave me a clearer view of what kind of person I want to be, and what kind of love the people of Corpus Christi should have for each other. Maybe it is outdated to be cordial to one another, to say please and thank you, or even to help out your neighbors in their time of need, but if simple gestures like these are outdated then what kind of community unity can Corpus truly say to have? The beauty of Corpus' experience during WWII is not in how many planes came from here or how many enemy lives were killed by Corpus Christi soldiers, it is in the sacrifices the people made for each other, and for their country. These sacrifices, this spirit of selflessness is something we see less and less today, and it is my mission to try to revive it, one kind act at a time.

Karankwa Indians

As I was driving to the beach this past Sunday with my parents I remembered the Karankwa historical markers was nearby at the Texas A&M trails. I proceeded to then scream like a maniac to my dad to take a right because I NEEDED to take a picture to which after some uncertainty he obliged. The Karankwa Indians were one of the first tribes Europeans came across in Texas; they were nomadic and would sometimes cover themselves with alligator grease to keep mosquitoes away. They were friendly with the Europeans up until reports of them being cannibals during the winters spread. European attempts to "civilize" the Karankwa population were never successful and their small population was made even smaller when they began to die due to European diseases. The remaining members of the Karankwa's then fled to Mexico in 1843 after many other disputes with Europeans and in 1858 the Karankwa tribe disappeared completely.

Putting the Pieces Together

Today is the big day!!! I'm just putting the finishing touches on my site and I'm pretty satisfied with the way it is turning out. It seems as if every article, every interview, every book page was made to come together for this project, and was made for me to learn about. I'm not going to lie, it has been a lot of work. I think the hardest part was picking the right information to put on my site, and figuring out which events during this time period were the most relevant to Corpus Christi residents. I think the best part of my project is being able to uncover how people truly felt while the U.S. was at war, and how grateful they are that they did not have to sacrifice as much as the European nations did. It makes me a whole lot more grateful for the blessings I have now.

1919 Storm

So as I was leaving The Lexington with my mom I spotted this historical marker and totally made my mom pull over. I had never realized how many historical markers Corpus really had until this project. Now whenever I'm driving I can't help but notice them, which is pretty crazy considering they have always been there but I never noticed them before. Anyways, this historical marker talked about the hurricane that hit Corpus Christi at 9:45 AM on Sunday, September 14, 1919. I was pretty shocked when I read that the people of the city did not have much time to prepare for the storm because they were notified just hours before it hit. The wind from the storm itself wasn't really caused over $20 million of damage but more the tidal waves the storm produced. 300 to 400 houses were destroyed, and 357 people died in Corpus Christi due to the storm The legacy this storm left on the city was the sea wall, before there was no barrier protecting the city from the sea, and we can thank the people who lived through this storm for the wall that now protects us from being swallowed by the ocean when a storm approaches.

The Lexington!!!

I was really surprised to discover that The Lexington was not counted as historical marker in Corpus Christi. I think this is due to the fact that it was converted into a museum, but either way it counts as a historical marker in my book. I chose to take a selfie with The Lexington because it is directly related to WWII which happens to be my topic for the local history project. The Lexington was actually built during WWII, and was mostly used during the Pacific War but was then later decommissioned and donated to the city of Corpus Christi as a museum ship. I thought it was funny how the Japanese used to call The Lexington "the blue ghost" because they thought they had destroyed the ship several times, especially because as I child I remember going on field trips and being terrified because of the several ghost stories my peers had shared with me about the ship. Although my topic is more geared towards the homefront in Corpus Christi during WWII it was nice to see how the U.S. government was utilizing all the materials they were receiving through rationing to defend their country. I think seeing The Lexington here in Corpus probably warms the hearts of the people who lived here during WWII because it probably reminds them of a time when the U.S. was really united, and maybe even of any loved ones they may have lost.