To the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park,

You are a beautiful contradiction in brick and mortar. Every step through your hallowed grounds brings me closer to a deeper understanding of our shared history and the endless tides of possibility. The very air around you holds a quiet reverence, as if it hums with the voices of those who shaped this place—a testament to resilience, strength, and a commitment to the future.

The connective walkway, which elegantly links the old Sugar Warehouse to the recent addition, speaks volumes to me. It is not just a physical connection but a beautiful metaphor of how history and progress can walk hand-in-hand, each step forging a path that honors the past while embracing the present. The Sugar Warehouse, with its storied past, stands proud—its weathered bricks whispering tales of those who came before us. Yet now, with this new passageway and addition, it welcomes new ideas, new reflections, and new conversations, bridging time and generations.

How graceful it is to see the blend of the old and new, the strength of your foundations paired with the promise of a future that holds infinite possibility. I am captivated by your vision, your balance of remembering and progressing. The elegance with which you blend heritage and innovation is a dance of purpose, each movement deliberate, yet filled with life and meaning. To walk through you is to feel a profound sense of connection—not just to the ground beneath my feet, but to the ideals that have anchored this place for so long: freedom, perseverance, and hope.

Reverentially yours,

Lou S. Cannes