304. Pensacola Police Department Honors the USS Florida 1911

When the US Navy decided to build the new Florida class of battleships, the first off the line was the USS Florida (BB-30). The keel of the new dreadnought was laid at the New York Navy Yard in March 1909. Fourteen months later she was launched in May 1910 and commissioned into the US Navy in September 1911. Her first tour of duty was to lead the fleet during their training cruises in the Caribbean. And naturally, one of her first stops was the port city of Pensacola, Florida. She anchored in Pensacola Bay in December 1911 amid a thunderous welcome by the city fathers and local populace. The first order of business on December 18, 1911 was a downtown parade from the crew of the Florida and her sister ship USS Utah, all heading toward the showplace of the south, the San Carlos Hotel. As the sailors came to attention in formation, the crowd became quiet and solemn as William A. Blount and Florida Governor Albert W. Gilchrist began to speak. At the conclusion of the speeches, a "silver service set" valued at $10,000 was presented to Florida's Captain Harry Shepard Knapp. Cities from all over Florida raised money for the gift, with the city of Tampa donating more than half of the entire costs.

Another festivity was a dance presented to the people of Pensacola by the crew of the Florida on December 19, 1911. It was held at the Armory Hall downtown on Palafox Street and began at 9:00 PM. The dance was also in connection to the "Presenting of the Gopher" by the Pensacola Police Department to the ship. Attached to the gopher's shell by red, white, and blue ribbons was a engraved silver plate inscribed with "Emblem of Florida presented to the crew of the USS Florida by the Pensacola Police Department." The gopher was accepted by the ship's quartermaster C. E. Bowley from the police committee of Officers Benjamin F. Bryars, Milton Frank, Charles Clarke, W. H. Smith, Fred Milford, Dan Murphy, and Andrew E. Schmitz. In addition, the ship was also presented with a "Billy Taft" possum caught the night before. Following the ceremony came the captains and their staff from both ships to participate in the dancing with the local belles. The music was supplied by the ship's band with the order of dance comprising the popular two step, four step and of course the always requested waltz.

Following all of the pomp and circumstance, the Captain and crew of the Florida returned to their ship and set sail to join the fleet. When America entered World War I in April 1917, she was sent to Europe to join the British Grand Fleet. During the war, the Florida was put to work patrolling the North Sea and escorting convoys, but never came into contact with the German Naval Fleet. She would remain in service until 1930, at which time she and her sister ship Utah were removed from service due to the terms of the London Naval Treaty. She was decommissioned in 1931 and sold to a Philadelphia based company to be scrapped.