Florida Executive Order 26-222 - Seminole Wind designated the State Anthem

[page 1] STATE OF FLORIDA OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 26-222 (Seminole Wind as Florida’s Anthem) WHEREAS, on December 13, 1954, John Anderson was born in Orange County’s Apopka, a place his family called home for generations; and WHEREAS, Anderson grew up in natural Florida, between rows of orange trees and the Central Florida swamplands that existed prior to the arrival of theme parks in 1971 and the tourism boom that followed; and WHEREAS, in 1972, Anderson graduated from Apopka High School, where the musical talents he developed throughout adolescence led him to Nashville to get his start; and WHEREAS, Anderson’s songbook reflects an effort to incorporate Florida’s history, heritage, and landscapes into his writing, positively impacting the protection of natural Florida at a critical time in the state’s growth and development; and WHEREAS, throughout his career, Anderson bridged the gap between the country music giants who came before him and the host of country music stars who followed, providing a pathway for the latter; and WHEREAS, following a string of hits early in his career, including the million-selling, No. 1 single Swingin’, Anderson’s resilient spirit and Florida-focused repertoire brought a resurgence in his career in the early 1990’s that included the iconic Seminole Wind; and WHEREAS, Seminole Wind has served as the unofficial anthem of the State of Florida since its debut in 1992, its lyrics honoring Floridians across the Peninsula, including the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Osceola, and the conservation-minded spirit of Floridians from Okeechobee to Micanopy; and [page 2] WHEREAS, the sentiments of Seminole Wind positively influenced a generational investment in protecting Florida’s heritage, natural environment, and way of life, resulting in the expedited restoration of America’s Everglades, the very place Anderson sought to protect in Seminole Wind; and WHEREAS, in 2024, Anderson received a long-overdue induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville and, at my direction, induction into Florida’s Artist Hall of Fame shortly thereafter; NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, section 1(a) and section 6 of the Florida Constitution, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect: Section 1. I hereby establish Seminole Wind by John Anderson as Florida’s Anthem, a separate designation from the State Anthem created under section 15.0326, Florida Statutes, that has had little to no use since its establishment. Section 2. I hereby direct the Secretary of State to take all actions necessary to effectuate this order, including the updating of publications, websites, materials, records, resources, and documents under the jurisdiction of the Department of State to provide for public awareness of this designation. Further, the Secretary is directed to take all necessary steps to provide for awareness of this designation within the State Capitol and to erect historic markers within the City of Apopka, Orange County, depicting the contributions of John Anderson to Florida’s heritage. Section 3. I hereby direct the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection to work with the St. John’s Water Management District to designate the wildlife drive and trail system within the Lake Apopka North Shore as the John Anderson Wildlife Drive and Trail System, a natural treasure that has benefitted from the conservation-minded stewardship Anderson inspired through Seminole Wind. [page 3] Section 4, I further encourage the incoming Legislature to codify Seminole Wind in chapter 15, Florida Statutes, to further provide John Anderson well deserved recognition. Section 5. This Executive Order is effective immediately. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed, at Tallahassee, this 27th day of October 2026, ON DESANTIS, GOVERNOR ATTEST; ‘TARY OF STATE