Special Shout out to Kim Thomas at the City of Green Cove Springs for granting permission for the placement of the Cache.
CONGRATULATIONS TO FLEMINGISLE4 FOR THE FIRST TO FIND
The cache is available 24/7
GREEN COV SPRINGS Nestled on the St. Johns River in Clay county, Green Cove Springs buffers a natural mineral spring that attracted Native Americans 7,000 years ago and became a 19th-century spa town known as "The Saratoga of the South." Renamed and made the county seat by 1871, it thrived on steamboat tourism and later as a military hub, hosting WWII's Lee Field and the Atlantic Reserve,"mothball fleet." Today it honors this layered heritage with heritage with historic districts, museums, and vibrant arts.
(The trees are only out from 1 Dec-1Jan) Every year, the city of Green Cove Springs hosts 225 decorated trees sponsored by individuals, families, organizations, and businesses. All trees start with white lights, and each one is decorated uniquely—no two are ever the same.
Now, if I’ve kept your interest so far, you may be wondering why I chose to call the cache Roxanne.
Not to end on a sad note—because there is light and purpose at the end of this tunnel—I just haven’t quite reached it yet.
Roxanne is my wife of almost 32 years. She lost her battle with cancer treatment on 11 November 2023. As you look at the tree, you’ll see many pictures from her life. In every photo there are smiles and laughter, though behind them were struggles that we held together with a little super glue and duct tape until the very end.
Roxanne has four sisters, two of whom have joined her, as have her father and mother. She is survived by a daughter and a son, and nine grandchildren—four of whom came to live with us at an early age until they became adults. Among them are three Eagle Scouts (one boy and two girls), and one granddaughter who has followed in our footsteps and is now close to completing her training as an Army Public Affairs Specialist.
Roxanne proudly served eight years in the U.S. Army (1985–1993) in the Signal and Intelligence fields. When her body could no longer keep up with the physical demands, she transitioned to the private sector. Eventually, after several relocations, she began working for multiple federal agencies (while we continued to move from one assignment to another unitl I retired after 26 years of service in the Army) until her health required her to finally stay home. Soon after, four of our grandchildren came to live with us, and though it presented many challenges, we stood strong together. Today, those grandchildren are grown and each is finding their own path forward in life.
There are two absolute rules in life that none of us can change:
Rule #1:
Rule #2:
I was going to share my version of these rules, but that is for you to discover on your own. Don’t dwell on them—we never know when they will be enforced, and we cannot change them. Instead, embrace the adventure, and care for those around you.
Please don’t be sorry for my loss. There is nothing to be sorry about. I am forever grateful for the gift of having Roxanne as my guide and anchor. Without her, who knows where I might have ended up. She was my compass, and her love still points me in the right direction.
I hope you enjoyed your visit to Green Cove Springs. May this place, and perhaps this little cache, bring you joy and good memories to carry with you.