A.G. Gancarski
The First Couple spent Friday evening recognizing some of those normal people who have done extraordinary things.
From Lt. Benjamin Wootson, an Orlando firefighter who was off duty when he rescued a Seminole County Sheriff’s Deputy from a fiery crash, to Fernando Safdie, MD, who went to Israel after the Hamas attacks last October to help soldiers, first responders, and orphans, raising $1 million while he was at it, Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis brought recognition to what they see as quiet, persistent heroism of various types.
“This evening it was a privilege to recognize and personally thank each Florida hero in attendance for their selfless dedication to their communities and our state,” said Gov. DeSantis.
“In Florida, we want to recognize and extoll the virtues of selflessness and service, and these 75 individuals embodied those virtues through their actions and achievements.”
Some of the heroes were young.
Take 11-year-old Delanie Dennis of Tampa for example, described as a “driving force” behind a lemonade stand that raised no less than $100,000 for animal rescues over the last five years.
Others are older, but involved in giving back to places they were forced to leave.
That’s the case for Dr. Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat, who left Cuba at the age of 6 back in 1971 with a freedom-seeking family. He’s spent nearly two decades as the driving force behind Radio Republica, which disseminates pro-American messaging to the still-communist island just 90 miles from Key West.
Still others took up arms in the culture war prioritized by the First Couple.
That’s the case for Julie Gebhards, a mother of six from Hillsborough County who has devoted her time to spotlighting objectionable books at school board meetings. And for Timber Creek’s Zuly Bovbjerg, who was successful in her push to purge an assigned book (“Shut Up” by Marilyn Reynolds) described as having “graphic imagery.”
“We are proud tonight to share the goodness of Floridians,” said First Lady DeSantis. “We were glad to highlight the inspiring stories of first responders, community leaders, foster parents, veterans, doctors, and others.”
22 comments
Guam Might Tip
April 27, 2024 at 12:10 pm
People I know that live in other states tell me how fortunate we are to have DeSantis as our Governor. Keep up the great work DeSantis. Ignore Nikki Fried and her progressive nuts.
Tom
April 27, 2024 at 12:22 pm
The grass is always greener on the other side. I guess the grass is greener because bs makes good fertilizer.
Guam Might Tip
April 27, 2024 at 12:35 pm
So what kind of fertilizer is Hochul making? So many are leaving NY for those greener pastures.
Tom
April 27, 2024 at 1:20 pm
I live in Florida – what do I care? Just means more traffic.
Defunded Floridians
April 28, 2024 at 4:57 pm
So not the case; Floridians seek home insurance, rapid public transportation and amenities beyond Universal…
The apartments are jammed with relocated Floridiots. You can see them with winter coats today; it’s 78F out!
Louise Stewart
April 27, 2024 at 12:49 pm
ABSOLUTELY!! Our Governor is definitely the best!!
ScienceBLVR
April 27, 2024 at 12:35 pm
Wow, my yard could really use some of Gov’s multiple piles of BS, she’s looking pretty brown and patchy. Even my lawn guy is embarrassed.
Guam Might Tip
April 27, 2024 at 1:06 pm
Go get ya some of that Hochul, Newsom, or Pritzker fertilizer That’s more your style but I hear it is very expensive.
MH/Duuuval
April 27, 2024 at 1:27 pm
Kristi Noem probably has an interesting mix from her compost pile. Or, the nearest ditch.
Guam Might Tip
April 27, 2024 at 2:09 pm
What do you have against female Governors? 😜
MH/Duuuval
April 27, 2024 at 8:09 pm
Nothing, unless they had a bad day hunting and came back to the ranch and personally shot a 14-month-old hunting dog for being “bad” and, for good measure, shot a “troublesome” goat.
ScienceBLVR
April 27, 2024 at 4:38 pm
What a lame retort.. my lawn’s in Florida, home sweet home where the MAGA BS roams.. of course, might make sense if I resided in New York, California or Illinois, but, well, Guam’s kwazy, right SR?
Guam Might Tip
April 27, 2024 at 5:45 pm
So. I could say all of your retorts are lame too. You Demos don’t like counters. It’s good to see more people on this board calling you folks out.
MH/Duuuval
April 27, 2024 at 8:12 pm
There are only two attempting to call out others: Peaches and his many online handles and Sphincter Man who has yet to apply for work with the JSO as strip-search “clenching” caller.
Formerly known as Qearl
April 28, 2024 at 4:59 pm
Earl gots a new screen name and screed.
Earl Pitts "RON'S OFFICIAL "UNOFFICIAL VPOTUS CAMPAIGN MANAGER" American
April 27, 2024 at 1:07 pm
Good afternoon Sciencey Guy,
Dont be angry because I, Earl Pitts American, am not on “The List Of Honor”.
I requested my place be given to another deserving Sage Floridian as I, Earl Pitts American, do my best work quietly out of the bright lights of public fame.
Thanks Sciencey Guy,
Earl Pitts American
Rick Whitaker
April 28, 2024 at 8:42 pm
yawn
Speedy Gonzalez
April 27, 2024 at 1:14 pm
Senior Earl my cousin SloPoke says you will always be every Latino y every Latina’s Numero Uno Hero in all of North y South America. In our homeland we celebrate Earl Day on July 4 every year. And in most South American Countries too.
Its a day of Carnaval for us.
SG y SP
Richard D
April 27, 2024 at 1:58 pm
It’s interesting to see that deSantis applauds ordinary citizens who spend their time inspecting school books for content. What’s acceptable content, of course, is a matter of opinion. The book inspectors are using their own discretion to determine what’s acceptable or not. Book bans and burning go all the way back to antiquity, when, in the 4th century AD, the newly empowered Christians destroyed most books based on the fact that they were written by Pagans. When Emperor Theodosius declared Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire, Christians went on a rampage of book burning and murder of Pagans and Jews. As a result of the Christians’ pogroms, only about 5-10% of books from antiquity survive. Today, Christians are still attempting to impose their will on everyone through control of media content, whether books, TV or movies. Book burning is built into the Christian soul.
Biscuit
April 27, 2024 at 4:23 pm
Breaking Wind News from Florida: Governor declares there’s no difference between a man who saves another man from a burning wreck and a woman who successfully bans books she doesn’t like.
Both big heroes.
Next headline up: Governor to write his own dictionary, call it Florida Speak.
Arf.
MH/Duuuval
April 27, 2024 at 8:15 pm
Don’t push the Guv so hard — he’s already taken a million bucks for his 2028 campaign book. The dictionary will have to wait unless Peaches can ghost write it for him (Peaches knows all the MAGA cant.)
Rick Whitaker
April 28, 2024 at 8:45 pm
I THINK PEACHES IS DESANTIS. they both have the same points and appear to have similar intellects