Florida Governor Rick Scott met with hundreds of area military veterans at the National Guard Armory on Jacksonville's Westside Monday morning and presented each of them with the Governor’s Veterans Service award.
“On the front of the medal is the great seal of the state of Florida, the best state in the nation," he said. "On the back are the five seals representing the five branches of the U.S. military with an inscription that reads: 'Honoring those who served.' We can never thank you enough for your service to our country. And this will serve as a testament of our thanks from Floridians everywhere.”
Among those who received a medal was Pierre Muentnick, 66. He said he especially appreciates the governor’s gesture.
“I served in Vietnam in 1965-66 with the First Air Cavalry Division," he said. "I was 18 and I was wounded over there. Vietnam veterans, like the Governor said, didn’t receive the recognition when we came home and this is really helping.”
The ceremony here was the first of five the governor has planned for this week. He will meet with military veterans in Sarasota on Tuesday.
You can follow Cyd Hoskinson on Twitter @cydwjctnews.
