DeSantis awards posthumous medals to Jimmy Buffett, 4 different Floridians

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has posthumously awarded 5 Floridians, together with singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett and former Republican and Democratic politicians, with the Governor’s Medal of Freedom.

"I am proud to acknowledge the legacies of those nice Floridians," DeSantis mentioned in an announcement.

"Our state is best for his or her contributions, and we’re proud they known as Florida residence," he continued. "They've every earned the respect of being awarded the Governor’s Medal of Freedom."

The governor awarded one of many state’s highest honors to Buffett, former GOP U.S. Rep. and state congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart, former Democratic governor and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, former Democratic governor and U.S. Rep. Buddy MacKay, and former Republican Florida Home Speaker John Thrasher.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has posthumously awarded 5 Floridians, together with singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, with the Governor’s Medal of Freedom. (Erika Goldring/Getty Pictures)

Buffett, who died in 2023 on the age of 76, was a legendary music icon who rose to fame within the Nineteen Seventies and was finest recognized for hits like "Margaritaville" and "Cheeseburger in Paradise."

On high of his musical pursuits, Buffett was concerned in enterprise as properly, launching eating places, resorts and merchandise underneath the "Margaritaville" model, together with opening his first Margaritaville retailer in Key West in 1985 and opening a Margaritaville Café close by simply two years later.

"His legacy continues to affect music and tradition in Florida’s coastal communities," a launch from the governor's workplace mentioned.

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Lincoln Díaz-Balart was a Cuban-American who was exiled from his residence nation following the communist revolution. (Douglas Graham/Roll Name)

Diaz-Balart, who handed away earlier this yr on the age of 70, was a Cuban-American who was exiled from his residence nation following the communist revolution. He was a powerful advocate in opposition to communism and oppression, and pushed onerous for a free Cuba throughout his time in workplace, which included working in Florida's Home and Senate earlier than serving within the U.S. Home.

Graham, who died final yr on the age of 87, served in each chambers of the Florida legislature earlier than serving as governor and U.S. senator.

"A Democrat, Graham was broadly revered for his work on training, environmental conservation, and nationwide safety," the discharge from the governor's workplace mentioned.

John Thrasher served as Florida Home Speaker and as Florida State College's president. (Getty Pictures)

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MacKay, who was the state's final Democratic governor, died final yr on the age of 91. His public service additionally included serving in each chambers of the state legislature and the U.S. Home, in addition to being the Sunshine State's lieutenant governor and later the U.S. Particular Envoy for the Americas underneath the Clinton administration.

Thrasher died earlier this yr on the age of 81 after serving as Florida State College's president, chair of the Republican Celebration of Florida and in each chambers of the state legislature. He additionally served within the Military through the Vietnam Conflict.