Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Florida Politics

Marco Rubio, Rick Scott Want DoD and Navy to Honor the Naval Air Station Pensacola Heroes

They also noted that the service members wounded in the attack also merit the Purple Heart.

Share Story Via Text, E-Mail, Facebook or Twitter
D5D08632-A25E-491C-AB91-3869D0A70CD7.png

On Friday, U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Rick Scott, R-Fla., sent a letter to U.S. Defense Sec. Mark Esper and the Acting U.S. Navy Sec. Thomas Modly urging the Navy to bestow the Navy Distinguished Civilian Medal with Valor to the Naval Air Station Police Officer wounded in the line of duty; and the Secretary of Defense Medal of Freedom to the Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies that responded to the recent terrorist attack at NAS Pensacola. They also noted that the service members wounded in the attack also merit the Purple Heart.

The full text of the letter is below.

Dear Secretary Esper and Acting Secretary Modly:

As the Navy and FBI continue to investigate the December 6, 2019 terrorist attack at Naval Air Station Pensacola, we respectfully request serious consideration be given to bestowing the Navy Distinguished Civilian Medal with Valor to the Naval Air Station Police Officer wounded in the line of duty; and the Secretary of Defense Medal of Freedom to the Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies that responded to the incident. Furthermore, those service members wounded in the attack also merit the Purple Heart.

We share your sorrow for the loss of our three sailors and praise the action of others that quickly responded. Through their heroism, these sailors nobly put their own lives at risk, preventing the terrorist from taking more lives. Based on the information gathered to date, and a recent statement by the Attorney General, we believe that those service members wounded and killed in this attack warrant the Purple Heart. As Attorney General Barr said on January 13, 2020, this was an act of terrorism. In accordance with 10 U.S.C. 1129a, the Secretary shall consider Purple Heart eligibility to “a member on active duty who was killed or wounded in an attack by a foreign terrorist organization in circumstances where the death or wound is the result… due to such member’s status as a member of the armed forces.”

The brave service members and law enforcement personnel who risked their lives on that horrible day have the admiration and respect of the American people. We encourage the Navy to honor their heroic actions by bestowing the appropriate civilian awards and the Purple Heart to those who so deserve it.

Thank you for your consideration.

 

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Author

  • Florida Daily

    Florida Daily offers news, insights and analysis as we cover the most important issues in the state, from education, to business and politics. View all posts

Share Story Via Text, E-Mail, Facebook or Twitter

Follow Us on Social Media

Related Stories

Florida Politics

As communities across Florida’s Gulf Coast recover from Hurricane Helene, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Marco Rubio and Sen. Rick Scott are meeting with...

Senator Marco Rubio

The Office of the Surgeon General announced a public advisory warning of alarmingly high levels of parental stress. The advisory and the Surgeon General’s accompanying op-ed, offered a...

Foreign Affairs

Florida’s Senior U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R), Vice Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, demands the Biden administration to guard domestic chip technology...

Business

Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R) recently contacted executives at John Deere, highlighting the need for patriotic companies to prioritize American workers and their families. Deere...

Foreign Affairs

Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R), who serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, joined Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ranking Member of...

Healthcare

Florida Senator Rick Scott (R) joined fellow Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R, Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and 17 of their colleagues in urging Department...

Florida Politics

In response to former President Donald Trump being found guilty on all 34 counts during his hush money trial in New York, Florida leaders...

Immigration

With the 2024 Presidential Election less than six months away, a recent poll shows that most Americans (52%) prefer a candidate who supports mass...