U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson gave his farewell address today after losing his seat in the midterm election to Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott.
Nelson took a trip down memory lane on the Senate floor, talking about the weeks leading up to his launch on board the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1986.
His crew endured four aborted missions before the successful launch. Nelson said the NASA engineers who inspected the shuttle determined each launch would have ended in catastrophe.
“Why was I spared?” Nelson asked. “Now, upon intense reflection, I think I'm beginning to see. Because it has been the great honor of my life to serve our country and the people of Florida.”
He told his colleagues there is still a lot of work to do. Nelson said now more than ever, they need to choose country over party or power.
“I leave this Senate today filled with hope for the future and the fondest memories of my fellowship with great friends here," Nelson said. "But I admit, it is hard to leave the friends and the work that I love."
One of those friends is Republican Sen. Marco Rubio from Florida, who also gave a speech today filled with glowing comments about Nelson.
"Above all else I knew him and know him as a good man, and I emphasize the word man," Rubio said. "Because I think often times we have developed in our culture a warped sense of what it truly takes to be a strong and good person."
Rubio later sent a tweet saying when we look back on Florida politics, Nelson will be thought of as a giant in the landscape.
Nelson closed his speech by calling upon all the people who will continue to serve. He told them he's putting his trust in them, and challenged them to act with moral courage.
“It's been an incredible honor,” Nelson said in his final words to his peers.