Florida Senate Honors Michael Waldrop

Orlando, Fla. (July 22, 2009) Today Michael Waldrop, a member of the West Orange Chamber Board of Directors, received the Florida Senate Spirit of Service Award for his U.S. Army service in Afghanistan and his successful initiative to create legislation to aid Florida’s servicemen and women. Senate President Jeff Atwater presented the award to Waldrop at a reception held at the Chamber’s office in Winter Garden.  

A former infantry captain in Afghanistan, Waldrop was wounded during the Battle of Panjwai and awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for Valor. After 11 months in Afghanistan, Waldrop returned home to his wife and two young children in 2008, but felt his call to serve was far from over. Waldrop contacted state legislators to pass a bill to exempt active servicemen and women from property taxes while they are away from home serving their country. Legislators agreed to this Constitutional Amendment this year and voters will make the final decision on its fate in 2010.

“My hope was that this bill would help motivate the troops by alleviating property taxes while they are off fighting for our country,” says Waldrop, vice president of construction for McCree General Contractors and Architects Inc. “I am very proud that our legislature was able to get this bill to ballot. This award is not about me but about our soldiers and military families that are facing multiple deployments.”