TRIANGLE, Va. — On March 21, The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation (MCHF) celebrates the Marines of Florida, as part of the organization’s yearlong Marines Across America program to mark the Marine Corps’ 250th Anniversary. The program highlights Marines who embody the values of honor, courage, and commitment within their communities and showcases the contributions Marines make in their local communities or nationally following their active-duty service.

“Marines have always made their mark on the battlefield, but it’s important to remember they’ve also made their mark in their hometowns and communities,” said retired Marine Major General James Lukeman, President and CEO of MCHF. “As we celebrate 250 years of the Marine Corps, we honor the significant contributions that Marines in Florida have made to our country. It’s an opportunity for all Florida residents to commemorate this historic milestone and show their appreciation for all Marines who stand ready to protect our nation and continue to put Marine values to work in their communities and professional lives.”

Notable Marines with Florida ties include:

• Andrew Michael Allen – NASA Astronaut who logged more than 900 hours in space across three NASA missions; currently the CEO of Aerodyne Industries (Cape Canaveral, Fla.)

• Bill Kurtis – Journalist, television producer, narrator, and news anchor nationwide for more than five decades; currently the judge and scorekeeper for NPR’s Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me! (Pensacola, Fla.)

• James Hartsell – Notable advocate and support of Veterans; Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (New Port Richey, Fla.)

• Fred Robinson – Recognized as a 2019 Florida Veterans of the Year, Chair of the Orange County Mayor’s Veterans Advisory Council Orange County, Florida (Orlando, Fla.)

• Daniel Duffy – State Judge Advocate for Veterans of Foreign Wars Florida (Davie, Fla.)

• David Karnes – During the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, Karnes was heralded for his heroics to help save individuals (Fort Meyers, Fla.)

• John Rogers (Jay) – CEO and co-founder of Haddy, Inc., a digital furniture company powered by revolutionary 3D-printing technology (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

• Korey Shaffer – Founder of Til Valhalla Project, which surprise-delivers memorial plaques to the families of Fallen Heroes (Saint Augustine, Fla.)

• Jose Diaz – Mayor of Sweetwater (Sweetwater, Fla.)

• Norris Henderson – Community leader who now serves as Community Manager of Mission United at Heart of Florida United Way (Orlando, Fla.)

• Rob Medina – Mayor of Palm Bay (Palm Bay, Fla.)

• Charles Chambliss – Mayor of Palm Shores (Palm Shores, Fla.)

“The list of notable Marines from Florida is impressive and showcases how they used the values and skills they learned in the Marine Corps to become leaders in their communities,” said Maj Gen Lukeman. “Today marks a special opportunity to recognize these extraordinary men and women for their service to our nation as well as their communities.”

The Marines Across America program continues throughout 2025, leading to the official 250th birthday of the Marine Corps on Nov. 10, which will be marked nationwide with official cake-cutting ceremonies taking place at all 50 state capitals.

Members of the public are encouraged to join the anniversary celebration and Marines Across America by sharing stories of Marines they know, both active and retired, who make a difference in their communities and in their professional lives. Submissions may be made through the Marine250.com website or via social media using the hashtag #MarinesAcrossAmerica.

About the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation:

Dedicated to the preservation and promulgation of Marine Corps history, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation was established in 1979 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The Foundation supports the historical programs of the Marine Corps in ways not possible through government funds. The Foundation provides grants and scholarships for research and the renovation, restoration and commissioning of historical Marine Corps artifacts and landmarks. The Foundation secured the necessary funding for the construction of the National Museum of the Marine Corps and Heritage Center, located in Triangle, Virginia, and continues to expand programs at the National Museum of the Marine Corps and beyond its walls. For more information, visit MarineHeritage.org.