Gov. Scott Presents Champion of Service Award

During a meeting of the Florida Cabinet, Governor Rick Scott today awarded Andrew Lumish with the Volunteer Florida Champion of Service Award, Florida’s official statewide volunteer recognition.
Governor Scott said, “I am proud to recognize Andrew with the Champion of Service Award for his dedication and commitment to honoring our nation’s heroes. I applaud his selfless and continued efforts to pay tribute to the lives and memories of our veterans.”
Volunteer Florida Chief Executive Officer Chester W. Spellman said, “Volunteer Florida is proud to recognize Andrew for the countless hours he has spent restoring gravestones and honoring our veterans. His dedication and persistence ensures that our service men and women are proudly remembered and honored.”
About the Champion of Service
A Tampa Bay resident and small business owner, Andrew Lumish spends almost every Sunday scrubbing and cleaning veterans’ tombstones. Andrew started cleaning tombstones in 2015 and has completely restored over 500 graves at three cemetery sites in Hillsborough and Pasco County. Andrew has restored almost all veteran monuments at Lutz Cemetery in Hillsborough County. Each tombstone is properly cleaned by the same standards practiced at Arlington National Cemetery, then accompanied with a full story about the deceased veteran on social media. His 21 year-old son, Tyler, now helps with restorations as well as posting veterans’ stories to social media.