Local Space History Captured in "Roots to Rockets" Documentary

All eyes have been on the inspiring journey of the Artimis II since the April 1st launch. But many don't realize that much of the research behind that launch began right here in Hancock County, MS. In the early 1960s, the US government acquired over 125,000 acres here to establish NASA's main rocket testing facility, first known as the Mississippi Test Facility and now the Stennis Space Center. This ushered in the very successful space exploration effort for the country, but also uprooted some long-established communities along the Pearl River, including Gainesville, Napoleon, Santa Rosa, Logtown, Westonia, as well as parts of Bayou Lacroix and my hometown of Pearlington.

Throughout my life, I've often heard about the families who had to drastically change their lives during this important period and felt compelled to capture their stories of these local residents who had to move and restart to make way for the future. These displaced communities were vibrant and connected to each other, the land and the Pearl River. Their sacrifice was great and I felt it was important to preserve their remarkable experiences.

As a local personal injury attorney, I had worked with local videographer Matt Barrett for trial preparation and respected his talent, so I discussed with him how best to gather and present this history. He was able to interview some former residents, and paired their memories with photographs and videos, both personal and archival, from that time period. The end result became the 32-minute documentary called "Roots to Rockets".

We worked for over a year to complete this compilation of interviews as an important part of our local history. Matt and I have enjoyed screening the documentary across the MS Gulf Coast, with discussions that follow to emphasize the strength of local communities and the importance of preserving our past. We're deeply grateful for the residents who shared their personal stories and the community members who have come to see the film.

The next screening will be on May 8th at The 100 Men Hall in Bay St. Louis, MS, with more screenings to follow. The oral history recordings will be accessible to the public through the Hancock County Historical Society and the Hancock County Library System.

Wishing for a safe journey for our brave crew on Artemis II!