User:FVHOFS/sandbox/Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame Society

Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame Society is a non-profit organization of Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame inductees developed for the purpose of supporting and funding the Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and receptions as well as providing grant assistance to veterans in participating Florida Universities.

Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame Society, Inc.

The Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame was founded by Colonel Bruce J. Host, USAF Retired in 2011. The purpose of the Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame is to recognize military veterans who have made a significant contribution to the State of Florida, their county and city, and their community by way of volunteering and making a considerable difference and improvement. It's not about what the veteran did during military service, it's about what was accomplished after service. This is not a military Hall of Fame.

In 2019 Colonel Bruce J. Host, USAF Retired formed a Florida non-profit 501c3 corporation titled Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame Society, Inc. The purpose of the Society is to assist the Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame with support, man power, induction ceremonies and consultation.

The Society operates its' own projects also. Many war veterans attend college following active service, but for many reasons, they can not finish their education. The Society locates qualified veterans and provides them with funding to complete their education.

The Society is a partner of the US Department of Defense Vietnam War 50th Commemoration. This qualifies The Society to seek out and recognize Vietnam War Veterans by awarding them 50th Commemoration lapel pins and certificates. Blue Star Surviving Spouses and Gold Star Families are recognized by The Society also.

Our primary recognition of course is with our Hall of Fame members. As of 2020, there are 85 members. 61 are still living. As many as 20 new nominations can be inducted each year into the Hall of Fame. This year in 2020, 40 veterans were nominated and 20 have cleared the first step of being inducted. The 20 names will be announced as soon as final vetting and final decisions are made.

Our members include quite a distinguished group of veterans. The following is a list of our Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame Society members and a link to their webpage on the Society website.

Class of 2013 Cleland, John R. D. Major General US Army (Retired) Gibbons, Sam M. US Army Veteran (Posthumous) Haynes, John L. Major US Marine Corps (Retired) Milligan, Robert Lt. General US Marine Corps (Retired) Rubin, Jeanne G. Captain, USNR (Retired) Silah, Robert J. Captain, US Navy (Retired) Class of 2014 [https://www.fvhofsociety.org/collins.html Collins. LeRoy, Rear Admiral US Navy Reserve (Retired)] Dozier, James L. Major General US Army (Retired) Farmer, Frank, Colonel US Army, Florida Army National Guard, USAF Reserve (Retired) Johnson, Cecil, Chief Master Sergeant USAF (Retired) Snowden, Lawrence F. Lt. General, US Marine Corps (Retired)

Class of 2015 Bennett, Charles E. US Army Veteran (Posthumous) Campbell, Larry, US Marine Corps Veteran (Posthumous) LeCroy, Charles, Chief Master Sergeant USAF (Retired) Chiles, Lawton M. US Army Veteran (Posthumous) Ebitz, Curtis V. Colonel US Army (Retired) McPherson, Warren, Colonel US Marine Corps (Retired) Myers, Gerald V. US Army Veteran (Posthumous) Peck, Earl G. Major General USAF (Retired)

Class of 2016 Askew, Reubin O'Donovan, 1st Lieutenant USAF Veteran Collins, LeRoy, Lt. J.G US Navy Veteran (Posthumous) Corbett, Jordan J. Sergeant US Army Veteran Delaney, Kevin, RADM US Navy (Retired) Freytes, Dennis O. Lt. Colonel US Army (Retired) Goetsch, David L. Sergeant US Marine Corps Veteran Holland, Spessard, Captain Air Service, AEF Veteran Proctor, William L. Captain US Army Reserve Veteran Sanchez, Washington J. Colonel US Army (Retired) Frederick A. SP4 US Army Veteran

Class of 2017 Baumgarten, Harold, US Army Veteran (Posthumous) Celli, Joseph J. US Army Veteran Denton, Earle, Lt. Colonel US Army (Retired) John P. US Navy Veteran Gates, Thomas G. USAF Veteran Gray, Leo R. LT. Colonel USAF Reserve (Retired) Host, Bruce J. Colonel USAF (Retired) ​Hunt, Richard R. US Marine Corps Veteran Irzyk, Albin F. Brigideer General US Army (Retired) Lamb, James L. Master Sergeant USAF (Retired) Linden, Albert H. Major US Army (Retired) Loving, Frances Colonel US Marine Corps (Retired) Phillips, Rodney L. US Army Veteran Rice, Thomas, 1st Sergeant US Army (Retired) Ritter, George, US Marine Corps Veteran Thrasher, John, US Army Veteran Van Beck, Donald, US Army Veteran White, Robert, US Army Veteran Wilson, Bernard, US Army Air Corps (Posthumous)

Class of 2018 Erdrich, Mark, US Army Veteran (Posthumous) Fornell, Gorden, Lt. General USAF (Retired) Hunsinger, Carl, Chief Master Sergeant, USAF (Retired) Lalama, Luis, US Army Veteran Maney, T. Patt, Brigideer General US Army (Retired) Marks III, John, USAF Veteran McLeod, Carlton, Rear Admiral US Navy (Retired) Merkel, Charles, Major US Army (Retired) Muller, Marlin, US Army Veteran Newman, Aaron, US Navy Veteran O'Connell, Stephen, USAF Veteran (Posthumous) Quirk, David, Captain US Navy, (Retired) Reuter IV, William, Captain, US Navy (Retired) Rosa, Jose', Master Sergeant USAF (Retired) Rose, David, US Army Veteran Schmidt, John, Chief Master Sergeant USAF (Retired) Thomson, John, Colonel US Army (Retired) Turner, Jessie, US Army Veteran (Posthumous) Wanberg, George, US Marine Corps Veteran Washington, Herlena, Lt. Commander, US Navy (Retired) Class of 2019 Brinkley, John - USMC & USAF Copeland III, Dr. Edward - Army Medical Corps Courtney, CW4 Donald - USA - Chief Warrant Officer 4 Cralle, Raymond - USMC Flynt, Col. Michael (Posthumous) - USAF Franz, Matt - USA Friedman, Irving - USN Frohlich, Lt. Col. Ali - USAF Gates-Skipper, Kathryn - USMC Leslie, Colonel Dale M. (Posthumous) - USMC Olson, Captain Norman - USN Phillips, Lt. Col. Robert - USAF Santiago, SFC Juan - USA Waldrop, Michael T. - USA Webb, Brig. Gen. William - USAF Zant, Dr. Albert - US Medical Corps Class of 2020 Clark, Colonel Gary - USAF Duren, George - USA Ferguson, Bridgadier General Michael - USA Garner, Lieutenant General Jay - USA Gayeski, Martin - USA Hahnel, Frank - USMC Hardy, Lieutenant Colonel George - Tuskegee Airman Joe, Colonel Ronald - USA Espeut-Jones, First Sergeant Daila - USA Kouns, Colonel Darryle - USA Leonard, Cliff - USMC Mason, Mike - USA Poitier, Michelle - USN Quaranta, Deloris - USAF Resch, Chef Warrant Officer 4 Dean - USA Shipley, Colonel Claude - USA Slesnick II, Lieutenant Colonel Donald - USA Steen Jr., Captain Morris - USN Thagard, Dr. Norman - USMC Yates, Lieutenant Colonel Alton - USAF