CFO Jimmy Patronis Recognizes NASA Day of Remembrance

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued the following statement recognizing Thursday, January 25, 2024, as NASA Day of Remembrance and honoring the brave men and women of Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia who lost their lives in the effort to expand America’s influence in space. This year will also mark the 55^th anniversary of the Apollo 1 tragedy and the fifth anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Space Force.

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “Space exploration is not for the faint of heart, and I believe mankind’s next adventure waits beyond Earth’s atmosphere. As we take a moment to reflect on the American astronauts we lost in the great endeavor to slip ‘the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God’ as President Reagan said in 1986 after the Challenger disaster, we must also celebrate all the amazing accomplishments that we a nation have been able to achieve in the past 62 years. In the past 20 years alone, we have discovered worlds similar to our own, dedicated ourselves to reaching Mars, and learned how precious our time and place here on earth can either lead to abundance or self-destruction. The astronauts of Apollo 1, the Challenger and the Columbia all believed that America could help build a better future for generations to come and increase our knowledge of our place in the universe by traversing the stars. Their sacrifice and willingness to brave the unknown has inspired countless future astronauts, scientists, and leaders to conquer fear and doubt in the face of tragedy. We will never forget the fallen heroes that never made it home but will always remember their service to mankind and their indelible influence on today’s space pioneers and the founding of companies like SpaceX and Blue Horizon. For those of us who remain here safely on the ground, we will continue lift up and pray for the families of the fallen while doing our best to honor their memories in our unstoppable effort to learn more about God’s creation and explore the cosmos.”

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About CFO Jimmy Patronis  
Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and X (@FLDFS).