by Joel Addington
Contributing Writer
You could start by finding out what World War II was like on the home front in Jacksonville, then listen to Mayor John Peyton deliver a Veteran’s Day speech, all before finding a seat on the sidewalk Downtown to watch the parade of 14 grand marshals, five marching bands and many more civic and community groups.
Korean War veteran Michael Baker hopes to do as much as possible this Veterans Day.
“There’s a lot going on,” said the Riverside resident. “But it’s the least we can do to honor our vets and active military.”
A number of local veterans were on hand Wednesday night for the opening of the Museum of Science and History’s new exhibition, “Veterans Remember the War.”
The winding exhibit depicts life as it existed in the 1940s from the vantage point of soldiers overseas and their families at home, specifically focusing on the home front of Northeast Florida.
“One woman who served at the Naval Air Station, we have her scrapbook of letters and photographs from the war,” said Christy Leonard, museum curator.
Another portion of the exhibit features William Surcey, a Tuskegee Airman born and raised in Jacksonville, and Lewis Conde, a veteran who survived the Bataan Death March in the Philippines and now lives in Jacksonville.
“They’ve been working on it for two or three months getting materials together,” said Robyn Roberts, of the museum’s development department.
The limited-engagement exhibit will run through late January and consists of World War II uniforms, a U.S. Navy dive helmet and boots, weapons, like the M1 Garand and Thompson submachine gun, and collections from Camp Blanding and Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
Veterans and current military personnel will be admitted free of charge all weekend. Cost for general admission is $9 for adults and $7 for children.
A special program from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the museum, 1025 Museum Circle, will feature an outdoor display of three World War II Army Jeeps, children’s craft tables and a chance to write thank you cards to soldiers serving today.
“It’s important for children to learn about the war because it’s such a big part of American and world history,” said Leonard. “An exhibit on World War II is a fun way to learn about the war rather than just reading it in the text book.”
For Monday, Peyton has planned a Veteran’s Day reception at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts, which starts at 10 a.m. The City of Jacksonville’s Veteran’s Day Parade through Downtown begins about an hour later.
“It’s the largest Veterans Day parade in the state and one of the largest in the country,” said Dan McCarthy, director of the City’s Veterans Affairs Office.
The event will feature flyovers, balloons, skydivers and more than 90 participant groups.
The parade will start at the Osborn Center and end at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. The route will run east along Water Street, turn north on Newnan Street and back east on Bay Street to the stadium.
The Don Thompson Chorale will perform a Veterans Day program in the afternoon at New Covenant Ministries on South St. Johns Bluff Road from 3-5 p.m.
Local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) posts will also hold ceremonies this weekend.
Cmdr. Lee Fair of VFW Post 3270 said an open house is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at the post on South 8th Avenue in Jacksonville Beach.
“It’s pretty much just us getting together with anyone else who wants to join us in remembering our veterans,” said Fair. “It’s not a big ceremony, but we’ll recognize the veterans.”
VFW Post 5968 in Orange Park will hold a Marine Corps birthday celebration Saturday at noon and perform a lowering of the flag ceremony Monday at 2 p.m.
Additional Veterans Day weekend events include:
Today
• CSX Military Appreciation Rally is 11:30 a.m. in the CSX lobby, 500 Water St.
• Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Ceremony hosted by U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw is 10 a.m. at the Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Hangar 117.
Saturday
• Admiral Jim Stavridis of United States Southern Command will be the keynote speaker at the Marine & Navy Corpsman Memorial Event, 2 p.m. at the Evergreen Cemetery, 4535 North Main St.
• Filipino Americans Fifth Annual Veterans Ball is 6 p.m. at the University of North Florida’s University Center, 12000 Alumni Dr.