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190:. She was the daughter of German-born Civil War veteran John H. Martus and Rosanna Cecilia Decker. She had five siblings: Catherine, Annie, Charles, George and Mary. John Martus was an ordnance sergeant at
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The reason she greeted ships was because as a young girl, she had fallen in love with a sailor and wanted to be sure he would find her when he returned. When, after 44 years, he did not, she died of a
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When the captain of the ship that brought her memorial statue to
Savannah arrived, he refused to accept payment because of his fond memories of Martus.
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The Waving Girl historical marker was officially dedicated in 1958 and is located near the visitor center at Fort
Pulaski.
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Following her father's death (by 1890), the family moved to
Savannah. They returned to
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When George retired, they both moved to Bona Bella in
Savannah, with the
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was erected in
Morrell Park on Savannah's historic riverfront in 1972.
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Martus died on
February 8, 1943, aged 74. After a service at the
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Many legends endure about Martus, notably the following:
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Priest recalls Masses he said at aunt’s Elba Island Home
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Legendary
Lighthouses: Great Lighthouses-South Atlantic
166:, a tiny piece of land in the Savannah River near the
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statue, inscribed with Martus' incorrect year of birth
374:"Savannah Belles Ferry – Chatham Area Transit (CAT)"
138:(August 7, 1868 – February 8, 1943), also known as
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275:In 1999, the city of Savannah named its
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240:officially welcoming them to the city.
205:of the Elba and South Channel lights.
182:Martus was born on August 7, 1868, in
252:, she was buried in a family plot at
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459:People from Chatham County, Georgia
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250:Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
201:when her brother, George, became
400:. University System of Georgia
224:Sailors would bring her gifts.
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454:People from Savannah, Georgia
254:Laurel Grove North Cemetery
91:Laurel Grove North Cemetery
18:Savannah's Waving Girl
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162:. From her rustic home on
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363:at www.softadventure.net
272:was named in her honor.
136:Florence Margaret Martus
60:Cockspur Island, Georgia
53:Florence Margaret Martus
423:Savannah Online article
361:Charleston and Savannah
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264:On September 27, 1943,
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335:National Park Service
281:Savannah Belles Ferry
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194:on Cockspur Island.
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43:Martus around 1940
430:historical marker
394:"The Waving Girl"
238:mayor of Savannah
188:Savannah, Georgia
140:"the Waving Girl"
119:Historical marker
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79:Savannah, Georgia
16:(Redirected from
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71:February 8, 1943
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351:at www.pbs.org
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168:Atlantic Ocean
152:Savannah River
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106:Known for
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75:(aged 74)
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402:. Retrieved
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377:. Retrieved
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266:Liberty ship
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219:broken heart
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192:Fort Pulaski
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160:Fort Pulaski
156:light keeper
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73:(1943-02-08)
449:1943 deaths
444:1868 births
199:Elba Island
164:Elba Island
129:Waving Girl
127:Savannah's
98:Nationality
438:Categories
379:2024-04-20
178:Early life
150:, via the
93:, Savannah
101:American
404:10 July
209:Legends
186:, near
148:Georgia
260:Legacy
203:keeper
109:Waving
81:, U.S.
62:, U.S.
290:Notes
277:ferry
244:Death
406:2019
333:NPS
68:Died
49:Born
268:SS
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341:^
320:–
298:^
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146:,
408:.
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20:)
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