The following brief articles appeared in the November 10, 1988 issue of The 
Sentinel, Gulf Breeze, Florida. This issue discusses some of the highlights 
of the UFO sightings that have occurred in the area over the past year. The 
first article is by the primary photographer "Ed". Others are written by: 
Donald Ware, Florida state MUFON director; and Duane Cook, editor of The 
Sentinel. The articles are reproduced here with the permission of The 
Sentinel.

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ED SHARES PAST YEAR'S EXPERIENCES ON UFO SIGHTING'S
ANNIVERSARY

     On Nov. 11, 1987, as I opened the front door and stared at the glowing 
object partly obscured by several pine trees, I stepped into a phenomena 
that jolted me to the reality of UFOs. A phenomena that is being witnessed 
all over the world and here at home by dozens of our fellow residents. This 
reality may be hard to accept for those who have not had a sighting, so I do 
not try to convince or persuade. I have only reported my personal sightings 
and incidents as they happened.

     The resulting photographs and video tape I took of the UFO have been 
validated by computer imaging (Dr. Maccabee, physicist with the U.S. Navy). 
And, of course, there are otheres who feel differently and offer little 
other than opinions.

     When I was asked to use a 4 lens Nimslo 3-D sealed camera, I did. When 
I was asked to use the SRS (Self Referencing Stereo) camera, I did. The 
technical analysis of these photographs produced page after page of data 
with the end result detailing an object 14 foot in diameter at the bottom 
ring and 475 feet distant.

     The accusation of hoax came fast from those unable to say "maybe", and 
I was asked to take a lie detector test. Again the ridicule was hurled 
toward me and yet another lie detector test.

     As the controversy swirled, I began to hear preposterous tales being 
spread by the debunkers about devil parties and "ultimate pranks," etc. 
Those of you who know me will certainly laugh at such claims, but the object 
was to discredit me in the eyes of those who don't know me. There was a very 
serious attempt to destroy my reputation by twisting spooky party games into 
ritual seances. Having failed to discredit the photographic evidence, the 
out of town critics have mounted a slander campaign hoping to brand me. 
Thank you Gulf Breeze for ignoring these outrageous rumors.

     Some of you may remember the front page headline "Expert says Photos a 
Hoax." The next day the "expert" publicly retracted his claim and 
apologized. A counterintelligence agency in Maryland was given an audio tape 
of me being interviewed. The resulting examination of the tape on a PSE 
(Psychological Stress Evaluator) vindicated my word once more when the 
examiner said the result "does not show any reaction to cause this examiner 
to doubt his (Ed's) answers."

     Soon I began to understand that no matter how many tests I was 
subjected to and how many times the photographs were analyzed, I was still 
open game for the out of town media and clearly a target to be ridiculed by 
the out of town debunkers. Many distant newspapers and TV crews played "hide 
and seek" with reporting the accurate details, and several times I have been 
blackmailed in their quest for a scoop to expose my name.

     The official MUFON investigation was even infiltrated early by a 
debunker who took a liquid sample suspected to have fallen from the UFO for 
analysis only to issue a false report. Later the sample was analyzed by an 
independant lab with startling results. The debunker was exposed and fired 
in discredit. Another debunker from Central Florida has recently been 
exposed and is now being ignored by serious researchers.

     From Nov. 11 to May 1, 1988 (my last sighting), I have been stedfast to 
the truth as the storm of controversy, both positive and negative, continued 
to build in the media. The most troublesome question of the controversy is 
"Why have I had so many sightings?" I can not explain the "why" questions, 
the most disturbing one being, "Why Me?"

     In an effort to understand, I have undergone a battery of pshchological 
profile tests followed by six hours of regressive hypnosis. The details of 
the hypnosis indicate previous encounters as far back as 11 years of age. I 
was the first to shake my head in confusion but have come to the adjustment 
that life goes on-- even life we may not understand.

     Thanks to all those who have stood up and reported what they saw. Thank 
you, Gulf Breeze for being a good neighbor.

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GULF BREEZE UFO FROM THE INVESTIGATIVE PERSPECTIVE

                 BY DONALD M. WARE

     During the past year, many residents in and around Gulf Breeze, FL have 
been part of a unique experience in this country. Over a hundred people 
reported objects that we could not identify as planes, planets, flares, 
etc.. Some reported seeing alien beings, and six reported blue beams coming 
from the UFO. One respected Gulf Breeze family had 22 encounters with UFOs, 
including 18 separate photographic sessions. These sessions produced 41 
photographs of at least five different types of flying objects. Five 
different cameras were used providing sufficient data to determine the size 
of some objects. For example, one object photographed on 1 May 1988 was 14.8 
(misprint?) feet high and had a light on the bottom that was 14.8 feet in 
diameter. I have seen over 60 photos of UFOs from this area.

     Investigations by Newspapers, TV and the Mutual UFO Network were 
generally accomplished without ridicule. This encouraged 12 people to tell 
of their UFO experiences that involved "missing time" or extremely strange 
dreams. Some of these people are having trouble coping with their 
experiences. MUFON established a support group including abductees, 
investigators, and a clinical psychologist to help reduce fear of the 
unknown. I think the support efforts, including time-regression hypnosis, 
have helped several who seem to have been inside a UFO understand their 
strange experiences.

     I suspect that the increasing national media coverage of the UFO 
phenomenon, spurred by the Gulf Breeze photos and sightings will cause many 
more abductees to gain the courage to talk about their experiences. Perhaps 
some will seek help in understanding what happened to them. I hope 
investigators and psychologists across the country will work together to 
provide this help.

     Some people have been unable to fully accept the reality of alien 
visitors, including some "armchair investigators." Perhaps the Gulf Breeze 
photos will help people across the country accept the reality described in 
the MJ-12 documents and other government disclosures.

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TO CELEBRATE OR NOT TO CELEBRATE

           BY DUANE COOK

     How do you celebrate the anniversary of an event you are not yet sure 
was good?

     Well, maybe celebrate is not the appropriate term.

     Perhaps reminisce is a better word to apply to our thoughts and 
activities on this 1st anniversary of the now famous UFO sightings by "Ed" 
and others in and around Gulf Breeze.

     Initially we had no idea that printing Ed's photos would cause such a 
worldwide interest in our fair community.

     First, there were the wire services that broke the news worldwide with 
a brief account of the first sightings.

     Then came the National Enquirer with their offer to pay for the right 
to print the photos if NASA Scientists found them genuine.

     MUFON (Mutual UFO Network) got involved in the investigation early and 
became the authority to which the explosion of local sightings were 
referred.

     Dr. Bruce Maccabee, an optical physicist under contract with the Navy, 
did the most extensive research on the Gulf Breeze sightings and photographs 
and has pronounced them real for lack of any evidence to the contrary.

     And now we find ourselves contemplating why Gulf Breeze?

     Is it because they (the UFOs) knew Ed would share his photos with the 
whole town via the Sentinel and subsequently the local TV stations?

     Or is it because Ed lives here and they (the UFOs) just followed him 
here to continue their interaction with him as they have done at eight year 
intervals since he was a child?

     And what about the many other sightings we've had? Is it just 
coincidence that Charlie and Doris saw the same craft on the same night that 
Ed photographed it, thus assuring the Sentinel's unflinching support while 
maintaining its unquestioned credibility?

     Then there are the ministers, the teachers, the law enforcement 
officers, the district medical examiner and his wife, and even a city 
council member.

     Were these people just randomly in the right place at the right time, 
or is there an intelligent plan guiding the selection of who sees it and who 
doesn't?

     Whether we call it a celebration, a reminiscence, or a review, we all 
found it amazing that it's already been a whole year since it all started.

     And we wanted to share with you our thoughts and reflections on this 
most interesting year.

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Reports by several others also appeared in this issue of The Sentinel but 
are not presented here. 
