VET-DAY: A Jacksonville Celebration of Service, Friendship and Our Veterans

From Post 9: learning how a veterans venue becomes a family

At American Legion Post 9, I was proud to help imagine, organize and build energy around gatherings that brought veterans and neighbors together. I sometimes describe that role as being an architect—not the architect of a building, but one of the people helping shape the atmosphere, the program and the welcome. That experience taught me that a military organization’s venue can become far more than a meeting hall. It can be a place where a new veteran finds a mentor, an older veteran finds companionship, a family finds support and the whole community learns what service means.

This is my personal account, not a claim that Post 9 or any veterans organization endorses this campaign. The lesson I carry forward is simple: boots on the ground matter. A successful celebration is built by volunteers who set up chairs, make calls, cook food, check on a veteran, welcome a child and stay until the last table is put away. Leadership should honor that work with humility.

The biggest, warmest veterans celebration we can responsibly build

My goal is to work with veterans, military families, the City Council, Jacksonville’s Military Affairs and Veterans Department, event professionals, sponsors and service organizations to study an annual VET-DAY worthy of Duval County. I want a celebration people travel to see—while remaining safe, accessible, financially responsible and centered on veterans rather than politicians.

The day could combine a family festival, veteran-owned business market, live music, unit and branch reunions, adaptive sports, a service-resource pavilion, mental-health and benefits navigation, employment interviews, children’s activities, a formal remembrance and an evening celebration. Free or affordable access, transportation options, shade, seating, sensory-friendly spaces and disability accommodations should be part of the plan from the beginning.

1. A remembrance ceremony led with dignity and participation from veterans and Gold Star families
2. A benefits and wellness area staffed by qualified, accredited providers
3. Veteran-owned businesses, employers and skilled-trades pathways
4. Music, comedy, food and family programming reflecting Jacksonville’s cultures
5. Adaptive recreation and recognition of wounded, disabled and aging veterans
6. Published safety, accessibility, sponsorship and financial standards

Operation Barnabas: partnership begins with respect

Operation Barnabas describes its work as offering veterans a hand up through stable housing, employment and mentorship. That is serious, boots-on-the-ground service. I would be honored to invite Operation Barnabas and other qualified veterans organizations into a listening and planning process—without assuming their endorsement, speaking for them or asking them to surrender their independence.

Partnership means asking what is useful, respecting boundaries and giving service organizations room to lead in the areas they know best. It also means acknowledging that people and organizations can have misunderstandings. We may not agree on every detail, and that is all right. I choose reconciliation, direct conversation and shared service. Any prior tension or distance should be set aside in the interest of veterans. Continue to be great. Jacksonville needs strong organizations doing real work.

A personal note of appreciation

Ami Ritter, I want to recognize the care, energy and determination that I have personally seen you bring to the community. Thank you for continuing to show up. Raylan Heck, you have struck me as a good man who cares deeply about veterans and the people beside him. And Blake—this shout-out is for you. Thank you for the work, the presence and the community spirit.

These are my personal words of appreciation, not statements of campaign endorsement by any named person or organization. We can agree to disagree when necessary and still shake hands, serve veterans and move Jacksonville forward. Unity is not pretending differences do not exist. Unity is deciding that service, respect and the mission are bigger than the disagreement.

A celebration that leaves help behind after the music stops

A great event should produce more than photographs. VET-DAY should connect veterans and families with verified resources, follow up on referrals and publish results without exposing anyone’s private information. The campaign proposal is to measure useful connections: benefit appointments, employment interviews, housing referrals, mentorship matches, health-care navigation, volunteer sign-ups and support for veteran-owned businesses.

No single event can solve veteran homelessness, suicide, isolation or employment barriers. It can, however, open doors, reduce stigma and bring organizations into lasting coordination. Veterans in crisis can call 988 and press 1 or text 838255 for confidential support. Celebration and care belong together.

Jacksonville unity, pride and love

VET-DAY is about togetherness: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force, National Guard, Reserve, families, caregivers, wounded veterans, veterans who served in peacetime and war, and neighbors who simply want to say thank you. Every branch has its traditions; every veteran has a different story; every family carried part of the load.

Let Jacksonville become known as the city that celebrates loudly, remembers quietly, serves consistently and welcomes completely. We can laugh together, disagree honestly, reconcile humbly and keep serving. Duval pride. Military pride. Jacksonville unity. Boots on the ground. Hearts open. TOGETHER! We win.