“ We wanted to make a good faith effort to allow the committee to consider the views of the public in making their decision ,” he said .
Parsons said the public comment phase offered residents five opportunities to submit input , including an online survey and through emails or letters . Respondents were asked to identify their nominee and include the person ’ s area of influence , how that person made a significant contribution to the state , whether they were making the nomination as an individual or member of an organization , and their county of residence . However , other than submitting a name , the additional questions were optional . The state received a total of 3,587 submissions from the public .
For Grimes , the influence of Mary McLeod Bethune and her legacy were clear . “ She represents the epitome of what we are as Floridians ,” she said . Reading from Bethune ’ s “ Last Will and Testament ,” written a few years before her death in 1955 , Grimes highlighted the educator and civil rights leader ’ s lasting contributions to the state of Florida and the nation .
One section illustrates Bethune ’ s ability to combine her idealism for building a better world with the realities of American society in the mid-20th century .
“ I leave you a respect for the use of power . We live in a world that respects power above all things . Power intelligently directed can lead to more freedom . Unwisely directed it can be a dreadful , destructive force ,” Bethune wrote .
Grimes said Bethune ’ s words still resonate with students , faculty and alumni at the university she founded and remain an important message for society today .
“ We consider it a document to live by today ,” she said . “ What a better place it is because she lived .”
Ashley Robertson , former curator of the Mary McLeod Bethune home in Daytona Beach and currently a member of the faculty in African-American Studies at the University of Florida , also spoke at the Ad Hoc committee meeting in support of Dr . Bethune ’ s nomination .
“ Her school became a beacon of hope ,” Robertson said . “ She utilized her school as a space against the vicious policies of segregation by hosting Sunday community meetings in which whites and Blacks came together to enjoy the arts . In that instance , she effectively brought integration to this state well before the civil rights movement .”
Robertson said Bethune ’ s legacy continues to attract attention and visitors to Florida .
Dr . Mary McLeod Bethune
“ Today thousands of visitors come to Daytona to visit her home and walk in the steps of a legendary woman ,” Robertson said . “ This is an opportunity for Florida to recognize a woman who is often not given her proper place in history .”
Robertson said inclusion of the statue of Mary McLeod Bethune is important beyond recognizing and commemorating her legacy , saying many of the statues currently on display in the National Statuary Hall “ do not reflect the diversity of our nation ” and the nomination of Bethune “ is an opportunity for Florida to make history by becoming the first state to honor an African-American for this collection .”
Bethune ’ s nomination also received support from the Ad Hoc committee itself during the meeting .
Major Gen . Michael A . Calhoun , at the time Adjutant General of Florida in command of the Florida National Guard and member of the Ad Hoc committee , said Bethune ’ s life and legacy are as important as ever .
“ What she did is relevant to today ,” he said . “ During that period of time when we still had segregation , what she brought to education , in the state of Florida and the United States as a whole , still echoes .”
Calhoun said while many are aware of Bethune ’ s story , it is one that is important to continue telling .
“ Even though she has accumulated a number of awards , I am not sure we recognize her enough here in the State of Florida in the manner in which she should be historically noted ,” he said .
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