Veterans Day

Veterans Day is a celebration of our heroes. Jacksonville salutes its military in a big way with the annual Week of Valor celebrations every November.

From military bases, to armed forces monuments and attractions, the City of Jacksonville is the perfect destination for military families and groups to visit and honor their heroes.

As the proud host of Florida’s largest Veterans Day Parade, Jacksonville holds special events leading up to Veteran’s Day that include family festivals, tall ship tours, military appreciation luncheons and special speakers. The parade is a patriotic spectacle that includes senior military officials, active duty and retired military units, veteran groups, local high school marching bands, ornamental floats and much more! Enjoy the parade this year on November 11, 2025 at 11:01 am.

Veterans Day Parade in Jacksonville logo

When it comes to remembering our fallen heroes, Jacksonville’s Memorial Park, located on the St. Johns River in the historic Riverside neighborhood, is the third oldest park in the City and honors 1,200 Floridians who died in World War I. The Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Wall, in Downtown Jacksonville, showcases the names of more than 1,500 local military personnel lost in combat. The memorial includes names from WWI all the way to the War on Terror and covers all branches of the military. There is another World War II Memorial at Oceanfront Park in Jacksonville Beach which honors 22 Jacksonville Beach residents who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces or the Merchant Marine between 1941 and 1945. These individuals represent every branch of the military, including the U.S. Coast Guard. Surrounding the polished granite war tablet are six smaller stone monuments, each engraved with the emblem of one of the five U.S. armed service branches and the Merchant Marine. Jacksonville is also home to a National Cemetery which opened in 2009.

An exciting new addition to honor our military history is the Jacksonville Naval Museum - USS Orleck. This retired naval ship turned museum in Downtown Jacksonville is open Wednesday-Sunday.

Another great local attraction with military ties is the new Veterans United Craft Brewery, located in Jacksonville’s Southside. Ron Gamble, a former naval flight officer, along with fellow Veterans opened the brewery in late 2014. Part of the Jax Ale Trail, Veterans United is committed to providing unique local brews and a positive contribution in Jacksonville.

Whether you are visiting our many military sites, honoring beloved veterans at Jacksonville’s monuments and parks or sipping one of the local Veterans United brews, Jacksonville is the place to be to honor our nation’s Armed Forces!

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