Parker Weaver is just age 9. But he is already exhibiting leadership qualities and an interest in helping to make the USS Charles F. Adams a reality.
Two years ago, Parker, a member of Cub Scout Pack 101 at Christ’s Church in Jacksonville, Fla., camped on the USS Alabama battleship in Mobile, Ala. – one of the closest ship sites to Northeast Florida. He was impressed with the ship’s capabilities, met original crew members and dreamed of going on board another ship soon, even though it was a six-hour drive from Jacksonville to Mobile.
“I saw all of the guns and they were huge,” said Parker, a rising fourth grader at Mandarin Oaks Elementary School. “It was fascinating how big the ship was and all it did.”
Earlier this summer, the Weaver family stopped by the Adams Class Museum Visitor Center at The Jacksonville Landing. As the families strolled around, Parker saw the store, went inside and found out more about the effort to bring the Adams home by talking with Visitor Center manager Pat Stroud. Parker convinced his father, Jeff, and mother, Mary Beth, that this was a great cause. He wanted to join, which costs $25.
Parker used his savings and money earned at home to gather the membership fee within five days and by late June become the youngest member of the organization. Not only that, but he convinced his buddy, Joshua Wilson, from Thomasville, Ga., whose family was visiting The Jacksonville Landing with the Weavers, that this would be something good for him to do also. Joshua had also visited the USS Alabama on a Scout trip previously. Joshua is also a member now.
“I just told Joshua that we could get up in the guns,” Parker said. “I said if we helped maybe the ship would come in soon and we could go on it.”
Parker Weaver cherishes another thing about his visit – the Adams Class Museum hat. “I wear it every day,” Parker said.