DeSantis posthumously awards Governor's Medal of Freedom to Jimmy Buffett, politicians: 'Great Floridians'

Florida Gov Ron DeSantis has posthumously awarded five Floridians including singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett and former Republican and Democratic politicians with the Governor s Medal of Freedom I'm proud to recognize the legacies of these great Floridians DeSantis announced in a report Our state is better for their contributions and we re proud they called Florida home he continued They have each earned the honor of being awarded the Governor s Medal of Freedom The governor awarded one of the 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 House Speaker John Thrasher MIKE CASTLE DELAWARE'S LAST REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR AND CONGRESSMAN DEAD AT Buffett who died in at the age of was a legendary music icon who rose to fame in the s and was best known for hits like Margaritaville and Cheeseburger in Paradise On top of his musical pursuits Buffett was involved in business as well launching restaurants resorts and merchandise under the Margaritaville brand including opening his first Margaritaville store in Key West in and opening a Margaritaville Caf nearby just two years later His legacy continues to influence music and custom in Florida s coastal communities a release from the governor's office commented SEN RICK SCOTT ENDORSES TRUMP-BACKED FLORIDA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATEDiaz-Balart who passed away earlier this year at the age of was a Cuban-American who was exiled from his home country following the communist revolution He was a strong advocate against communism and oppression and pushed hard for a free Cuba during his time in office which included working in Florida's House and Senate before serving in the U S House Graham who died last year at the age of served in both chambers of the Florida legislature before serving as governor and U S senator A Democrat Graham was widely respected for his work on training environmental conservation and national guard the release from the governor's office declared CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPMacKay who was the state's last Democratic governor died last year at the age of His inhabitants institution also included serving in both chambers of the state legislature and the U S House as well as being the Sunshine State's lieutenant governor and later the U S Special Envoy for the Americas under the Clinton administration Thrasher died earlier this year at the age of after serving as Florida State University's president chair of the Republican Party of Florida and in both chambers of the state legislature He also served in the Army during the Vietnam War Fox News Digital reached out to the governor's office for additional comment