Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delivered his final September 11 address as governor at a remembrance ceremony in Green Cove Springs on Friday, marking the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 Americans.

DeSantis, who joined the Navy as a JAG officer following the 2001 attacks, spoke about how the events shaped his decision to serve. The governor recalled his 2007 deployment to Iraq as a legal adviser to a Navy SEAL commander, earning a Bronze Star for his service alongside special operations forces in places like Fallujah and Ramadi.

In his remarks at Spring Park, the governor remembered the nearly 3,000 lives lost, noting that more have since died from 9/11-related illnesses than in the initial attacks.

One of the more famous examples is of Marcy Borders, a woman who escaped the World Trade Center before the Twin Towers collapsed. She was soon after photographed completely covered in dust and ash from the fallout, earning the nickname “Dust Lady.”

Although she survived the attacks, Borders would later endure a decade-long struggle with trauma before she succumbed to cancer in 2015.

DeSantis praised the heroism of first responders and Flight 93 passengers while questioning whether the nation has fully heeded the call to "never forget." He criticized the acceleration of immigration policies that admit individuals who do not appreciate American values, stressing the need for a clear-eyed approach to threats to the country.

The governor ordered U.S. and Florida flags flown at half-staff statewide and proclaimed Sept. 11 through Sept. 17 as Patriot Week, with Sept. 11 designated as 9/11 Heroes' Day.

DeSantis, who leaves office at the end of the year, tied his military experience to lessons about mission focus and national resilience.

Now he’s hoping another Republican will follow up on his policies as the term-limited governor addresses his constituents through the November election.

Byron Donalds is the Republican candidate vying to replace DeSantis in the governor’s office, gaining momentum amid key endorsements from state and national party figures. After Donalds overwhelmingly secured the party's gubernatorial nomination in the Florida primaries, DeSantis formerly endorsed him, along with other Florida Republican competing for elected positions, during a leadership rally in early September.

The two have seemingly buried the hatchet after their relationship strained over DeSantis’ previous bid for president. Donalds’ endorsement of Donald Trump in the 2024 race, rather than the governor of the state he represented, reportedly was a major source of contention that soured the two Republicans' relationship.

Still, DeSantis praised Donalds in his endorsement, including their shared alignment on key issues like immigration enforcement and tax relief.

Donalds acknowledged the endorsement in a post on X, writing, "Governor DeSantis has done incredible work to make Florida the envy of America. As your next Governor, I will build on his success and defend the Florida Dream."

On Friday, Donalds posted on his X account, sharing his thoughts and prayers with families affected by the 9/11 attacks, saying, “We still mourn the 2,977 lives lost on that horrible day — families in New York and across America shattered by an act of cowardly, unthinkable violence.”

Regardless of who assumes the governor’s office, DeSantis’ passionate tributes to the victims of September 11, shaped by his experience, will be remembered by those affected by the attacks.