PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Governor Rick Scott awarded 132 honorably discharged Florida veterans with the Governor’s Veterans Service Award on Feb. 26 for their service to Florida and the nation.
Governor Scott said, “As a Navy veteran myself, I was honored to recognize 132 Florida veterans today for their courage and commitment to our nation. Florida is home to the third largest population of veterans in the nation, and as our veteran population grows we must continue to support them and their families. That is why our ‘KEEP FLORIDA WORKING’ budget proposes funding for three new state veteran’s nursing homes this year.”
The ceremony was held at the Panama City National Guard Armory. During the ceremony, Governor Scott highlighted the service of Florida veteran Master Sergeant John Milam. Master Sergeant John Milam is a 21-year Air Force veteran who trained in Weapons Mechanics at Sampson Air Force Base in New York and Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado. He served bravely in Japan, Korea, Germany and Vietnam. Milam now lives at the Clifford C. Sims home, one of Florida’s six state veterans’ nursing homes.
The governor awarded an additional 121 honorably discharged Florida veterans with the Governor’s Veterans Service Award in Melbourne on Jan. 16 and approximately 30 veterans during the Feb. 5 Cabinet Meeting in Tampa. The Villages will host the next ceremony on March 30.
The “Governor’s Veterans Service Award” honors Floridians who have served in the U.S. Military. The front of the medal depicts the Great Seal of the State of Florida. The back of the medal displays the five seals representing the five branches of U.S. Military with an inscription that reads “Honoring Those Who Served.”
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