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Today is Florida’s first ever Purple Heart Day.

Governor Rick Scott signed a bill earlier this year declaring August 7th, a day to honor US soldiers injured in combat. This morning Purple Heart recipients attended a ceremony at the state capitol and were honored by cabinet members. Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater says it’s hard to find the words to thank them.

“To all of you who’ve witnessed it close up and built the character to somehow know how to express that honor and duty, we are certainly grateful and in all our limitations maybe that’s all we can express is the greatest gratitude in the world,” said Atwater.

Cabinet members also honored Daniel Chairs, a Marine who died in Iraq in 2006. His parents and sister were at the ceremony and lit a candle with the governor.