DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. — UPDATE: Despite the pandemic, organizers kept the Veterans Day Parade on. This year’s crowd was smaller, but the support was equally as strong.
The event is sponsored by the Law Offices of Ron Sholes, who is also a veteran. Their float usually hands out 20,000 t-shirts. However, because of the pandemic, they expected lower turnout and only gave out 7,500.
Click here to watch the parade on the Action News Jax Facebook page.
A total of five floats, more than 100 vehicles, and marching bands went down the parade route, which started from a new location this year. The lineup started at the Prime Osborn Center and finished at Lee and Forsyth streets.
“Vets are who make it happen. We go out there and fight for our country so we can be free and do the things we do. As I say, ‘Duval Together Baby,” Petri Tillman told Action News Jax reporter Robert Grant.
He is active army and served for ten years, with three different employments, including Iraq and Afghanistan. He was at the parade with his kids Wednesday. “Work hard and try to be the best you can. You never know where it’s going to take you.”
Original Story:
The city is coming together to honor our military at the annual Veterans Day parade in downtown Jacksonville on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
The event will begin at 11:01 a.m. on Water Street in front of the Lofts at Jefferson Station. The parade will then head east down Water Street, turn onto Laura Street, turn west down Adams Street and will continue west and end at Lee Street.
The public is invited to show their support by safely gathering along the street, wearing red, white and blue and waving flags, while practicing social distancing.
It can be watched in several places along Water, Laura and Adams streets, such as the Northbank Lawn and the Duval County Courthouse.
This year’s parade will feature U.S. Army veteran, Major General Maury Edmonds, as the parade grand marshal and two of Jacksonville’s oldest veterans: 102-year-old Sollie Mitchell of the U.S. Army and 95-year-old John Connelly of the U.S. Army Air Corps.
The parade will also include senior military officials, active-duty and retired military units, veteran groups, local high school groups, decorative floats, and more.
Mayor Lenny Curry and Sheriff Mike Williams will also be in attendance.
There will be road closures in place beginning at 7 a.m. at the following streets:
- Water Street from Lee Street to Hogan Street.
- Independent Drive from Hogan Street to Laura Street
- Bay Street from Main Street to I-95.
- Forsyth Street from S Myrtle Avenue to Main Street
- Houston Street from Adams Street to Clay Street
- Adams Street from Main Street to Johnson Street
- Laura Street from Independent Drive to Monroe Street
- Lee Street from Water Street to Monroe Street
- Davis Street from Forsyth Street to Adams Street
- Madison Street from Forsyth Street to Houston Street
- Jefferson Street from Monroe Street to Riverside Avenue
- Broad Street from Acosta Bridge North to Monroe Street
- Pearl Street from Monroe Street to Water Street
- Julia Street from Bay Street to Monroe Street
- Hogan Street from Water Street to Monroe Street
- Park Street from Stonewall Street to Water Street