Long Live Coxie's Army

In 1969 a group of teenage boys too old for trick or treat, too young to party, gathered together on Halloween. They wanted to pull a prank that would satisfy the rotten kid in all of them. Something big enough to garner attention but not mean-spirited or destructive. They decided to spike a pumpkin through the steeple of the North Miami Public library. The act itself might not seem so impressive, despite its 43 foot climb to the steeple. What was really  impressive is what was foretold in the accompanying poem to the prank:

"The Great Pumpkin shall watch over your library forever. "

And so it has for 37 years. Undeterred by construction, lifestyles changes and weather.  The boys now in their 50's still gather together to fulfill their promise every year.

A group of 6 or 7 boyscouts, they referred to themselves as Coxie's Army.  A moniker given to them by their scout leader who told them they were a mess looking as bad as Coxey's Army, a group of unemployed worker who led a march on Washington in 1894.

They gave themselves codenames such as  Lt. Youthful Yak, Lt. Col. Major Minor, Lt. Col. Yeti .P. Sasquatch, Staff Sergeant Skeeter and Colonel Coxie that they would sign onto every poem attached to the pumpkin.

The army now have all moved away except for one. The former boyscouts have grown up to become a Broward minister and electrician, a boat mechanic in Maryland, a carpenter in Tallahassee and an Orlando restaurant owner.

The library has tried to discover the identity of the army, but to this date they remain anonymous. The library has sort of embraced the yearly prank, or blessing as they call it. They've set up an exhibit showcasing the many poems left by the army and pictures of the prank. They've also left their own poems. In 1984 on the 16th anniversary of the prank, the library installed a new cupola and a larger steeple that now placed  them 47 feet into the air. The work was scheduled to be completed by December but the library pushed to have it done in time for Halloween. In effect daring the army to complete their task that year.

"The steeple is now close to 50 feet high, "If you fall off, I hope you can fly." 

They've considered it a blessing for so many years.  Since The end of October marks the end of peak Hurricane season, the pumpkin signifies another year that the library and the town have been spared. Even through major hurricanes like Andrew and and pesky ones like Wilma.

Wilma in 2005 fact created such slippery condition that kept the pumpkin from making it all the way to the steeple. A smashed pumpkin was found on the roof, denoting that years failure.

They were back again in full form for 2006. But last year the pumpkin only made it so far as the front door. You can blame last years heavy rain, or perhaps old age. The oldest member of the group is 55.

The poem they leave every year always noted the changes in the army's lives, as well as changes in the city, our country and the world. Previous poems have talked about weddings, and children being born, during Hurricanes they gave encouragement to the community, on 9-11 they left us inspiring words, and reminded us all why silly Halloween rituals like these are important. This year comes a huge change, the Army had a casualty, Staff Sergeant Skeeter. The youngest of group passed away on July 20th. Succumbing to cancer at the age of 49. He was the only one left residing in Miami.

It leaves us all wondering if the Great Pumpkin will ever rise again.