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3-Mile Bridge Renamed In Honor Of General Daniel ‘Chappie’ James, Jr.
July 13, 2023
The Pensacola Bay Bridge was official named the “General Daniel ‘Chappie’ James, Jr. Bridge” as ground was broken Wednesday for a memorial plaza at the base of the bridge.
James, a proud son of Pensacola, was a Tuskegee Airman, Korean and Vietnam War combat fighter pilot, and the nation’s first Black four-star general.
In June 2020, Florida Governor DeSantis signed the legislation that named the new 3-mile bridge over Pensacola Bay the General Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr. Bridge.
The memorial plaza will be located adjacent to the Pensacola Visitors’ Center and will feature a 10-foot statute of James, an 80-foot high flagpole and a phantom jet similar to the one he flew. A foundation is in the final stages of fundraising $2 million for the plaza.
Comments
9 Responses to “3-Mile Bridge Renamed In Honor Of General Daniel ‘Chappie’ James, Jr.”
Got to agree with the others here.
All respect to the great General Chappie James…he was a hell of a man…the perfect example of a great American, but…
It’s local name will still be 3 Mile Bridge.
@Not You on July 13th, 2023 9:24 am
And that Bridge is referred to as the 3 MILE BRIDGE be locals.
I mean no disrespect to General James. The bridge already has a name, steeped in time for we locals. It is “The Three Mile Bridge”. That is all we will ever call it, regardless of administrative name changes.
Glad to see this. It’s great that he be honored more in his own hometown. I would have preferred that the newest announced aircraft carrier CVN-81 be named for General James and his son who was also a general. Yes, they were US Air Force, not US Navy, but neither was Pres. Eisenhower, Sen. Vinson, Pres. Roosevelt, Pres. Lincoln, Pres. Washington, Sen. Stennis, Pres. Truman, and Pres. Reagan, all who had carriers named after them. Senators Vinson and Stennis highly supported the Navy which is why carriers were named for them, but they were not actually in the Navy themselves.
The man flew nearly 200 missions in Korea and Vietnam. Many times he was not required to fly the missions as a high ranking officer but he chose to be with his men. You will never find a more loyal man! He is truly a hometown hero!
Not you on July 13th @Thomas: That’s General James. Second Lieutenants and Ensigns are referred to as Mister.
@Thomas: That’s General James. Second Lieutenants and Ensigns are referred to as Mister.
I have read the autobiography of Chappie. If you have not read it, you should. That book should be required reading for school children. It tells of hard work and how he did not let adversity get him down I recommend it hghly
Nothing against Mr. James
But the bridge is Better known as and will always be to the locals the 3 mile bridge.