CLAY COUNTY – An appreciative nation honored the men and women who served in the U.S. military on Dec. 17, including four separate ceremonies in Clay County. Wreaths were placed on the gravesites at the Keystone Heights Cemetery, Memorial Gardens in Orange Park, Jacksonville Memory Gardens in Orange Park and Hardage-Giddens Hilly Hill Memorial Park in Middleburg. In all, at least 2,000 wreaths were bought with donated money. At Keystone Heights, former Clay County Commissioner and Ret. U.S. Marine Gayward Hendry delivered the keynote speech, reminding everyone of the service and sacrifice of soldiers to defend the nation’s freedom. “America can’t be beaten in war,” he said, “not because of the hate we have of the enemy, but the love we have for those behind us.” At Memorial Cemetery, veteran Mark Kaminski said, “We need to take time to remember those who can’t be with their families.” One of the three primary missions of Wreaths Across America is making sure younger generations know the cost of defending a county.