Governor Scott Honors 374 Veterans with Veterans Service Medal

Governor Rick Scott today awarded 374 Florida veterans with the Governor’s Veterans Service Medal for their service to Florida and the nation.
Governor Scott said, “I’m proud to honor these American heroes with the Veterans Service Medal today. Florida’s brave veterans have dedicated their lives to protecting the families of our great nation and it is so important that we take every opportunity to thank them.”
The Governor highlighted the following Florida veterans at today’s ceremony:
Sergeant First Class Gerald (Jerry) Toomey
Sergeant First Class Gerald (Jerry) Toomey enlisted in the United States Army in 1967 and served in multiple oversea tours in Vietnam, Germany, Korea and El Salvador. SFC Toomey’s service has been recognized with numerous decorations including two Purple Hearts, a Soldiers Medal for Heroism and an Army Commendation Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters. He currently serves veterans as the commander of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 133 of Pompano Beach.
Specialist Stephen Stocker
Specialist Stephen Stocker joined the United States Army and completed basic training in the winter of 2012. SPC Stocker then went on to continue his education at Palm Beach State College where he graduated with his AA degree. After completing his AA, he joined the police academy and graduated in summer of 2014. SPC Stocker deployed to Africa in 2016, where he led multiple anti-terrorism missions and trained alongside the French marines. After returning home in the spring of 2017, he was recognized with numerous decorations including the Army Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Global War and Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.
Private First-Class Daniel Jimenez
Private First-Class Daniel Jimenez was born in Havana, Cuba in 1991. At the age of seven he and his mother migrated to the United States. PFC Jimenez joined the Florida Army National Guard in August of 2015 and deployed to the Horn of Africa in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel. Once he returned home to his wife and son, PRC Jimenez started a new career with the Florida Department of Corrections and graduated from the academy in August of 2017. PFC Jimenez has been recognized with numerous decorations including the Army Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and three Army Achievement Medals.