The atmosphere was electric at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre as the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and St. Johns County Fire Rescue faced off in a charity boxing event. Over the course of fifteen bouts, Fire Rescue secured an 8-5 victory, with one split decision and one no-decision. First Coast Contributor, Tobias Wilson was on hand as the crowd of over 2,600 cheered on the fighters, with noise levels peaking at over 100 decibels from time to time.
While county pride was on the line, the event served a greater purpose. All proceeds went toward the Diamond of Dreams and the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.
The Diamond of Dreams is an inclusive baseball field and playground designed for children of all abilities. It will be located at the new St. Johns County Police Athletic League Complex in Elkton, which is expected to open in 2026. The project has an estimated cost of $3.5 million and has already secured a $2.1 million ARPA grant alongside community donations. This will be the second inclusive field in the county, joining the Field of Dreams at Aberdeen Park.
For those interested in similar events, Jacksonville’s “Guns and Hoses” has been a staple since 1999. Their next annual event will be held on April 18, 2026, at the University of North Florida basketball arena. Tickets range from $23.20 to $50.96 and are available at https://gnhjax.com/
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Tobias D. Wilson, with the artist’s name of Endofthehwy media, was inspired by the literally the end of the Maine state highway 24. This was one of my favorite spots to visit while stationed at now now-closed Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine, between 2004 to 2007.
I have been married now to a wonderful lady for 18 years and together we have one child, a nine-year-old daughter. We settled in St. Johns County after I retired from the US Navy after 20 years. My specialty in the military was administration and logistics. I am currently a stay-at-home dad and a volunteer at my local church.
In 2013, during outpatient treatment at Walter Reed Medical Center for deployment-related health issues, I was encouraged to find a hobby that I loved. I choose photography to see life through the lens.
I had the great opportunity to volunteer for two years as a still photographer for Honor Flights of Columbus, an organization dedicated to getting veterans to the memorials in Washington DC. My photos contributed to the flight mission video published on the organization’s website and YouTube channel. As a photographer, there was such joy to see the veterans return home to a hero’s welcome and be able to capture it.
