I give Juan Ponce de Leon the Naming of a Land
Award because he landed on Florida and gave it a beautiful
name. Juan Ponce de Leon had heard stories from the
natives that there was an island that had the fountain of
youth. They told him the waters of the fountain had the
power to make a person young again. He also believed
them when they said that there was a lot of gold around the
fountain. When he told the King of Spain about this story,
he was given ships and men to search for the Fountain of
Youth. He thought it would be great to be the one that
found it. Ponce de Leon first set foot in the land we now
call Florida in the St. Augustine area, which is on the east
coast, the Atlantic Ocean side. During his search he saw a
beautiful land which he believed to be an island. There
were many large and gorgeous sweet-smelling flowers as
well as tall palm trees, and colorful birds of many varieties.
He must have really enjoyed the warm temperatures! Since
it was the feast day of the Easter of Flowers, he named it
Pascua Florida, the place of flowers. Many United States
citizens now live in the state with the beautiful name,
which became part of the United States after being ruled by
both Spain and England at different times. Although he
never found the Fountain of Youth, and some say that he
was on the Bahamas, not Florida, one of the things that he
is remembered for is naming Florida. Vacationers and
residents alike enjoy the beautiful flowers there.