GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Memorial Day RiverFest become a tradition with local veterans and families throughout Northeast Florida. The City began the festival every year with an Opening Ceremony where an average of 150 veterans from Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia are recognized, both individually and by their military branch.
The highlight of the ceremony is a flyover by the Green Cove Springs-based Dreamland Squadron to recognize all military that died in combat. An Old Glory presentation, wreath-laying, bell ringing and the playing of “Taps” were additions to this year’s ceremony.
Spring Park came alive with a day of local entertainment, food trucks, more than 75 craft vendors, the rubber duck race, a watermelon-eating contest and the massive fireworks show over the St. Johns River.
While the day kicked off the unofficial start of the summer, it was grounded by a theme that embraced and paid reverence to the sacrifices made by our military service.
