Local News

Historic missile restored by students

Posted: 10/20/12 at 5:45 am EDT      Last Updated: 10/20/12 at 8:42 am EDT

MIAMI (WSVN) -- South Florida students participated in a project commemorating the Cuban Missile Crisis.

A part of history that was once forgotten has been brought back to life by students from the George T. Baker Aviation School. "It looks like a big cylinder. We had to take all those fins off," said student Manny. "When we stripped it apart you really couldn't tell what it was."

In 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, missiles were moved to South Florida to defend the country for almost two decades.

Students were part of the project to repair the missiles and restore it. "It makes me feel good, you know. All of us from South Florida being from Cuban descent and knowing a little bit more about our past is a good thing," said Manny.

The Nike Hercules missile will now stand proudly at the Everglades National Park. "This is the first time visitors can come to the park and see an actual piece of history, a Nike Hercules missile out in the Everglades where they used to sit," said park ranger Ryan Meyer.

(Copyright 2012 by Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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