Veterans Memorial at Magnolia Cemetery
The Veterans Memorial, located just inside the entrance to Magnolia Cemetery, 1040 Kingsley Avenue in Orange Park, is a place of quiet contemplation set aside to honor our veterans. The memorial features plaques engraved with the emblems of the six branches of the military as well as a stone with the inscription "Honor, Duty, Courage" to acknowledge the contributions of all veterans. The memorial also features engraved pavers provided by family and friends to honor individual veterans. A master list of all engraved pavers, sorted alphabetically by the first line of each paver, including the paver's location within the memorial, can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.
Each year on November 11, the Historical Society of Orange Park hosts the annual Veterans Day Ceremony at the Veterans Memorial at Magnolia Cemetery. This event honors the service and sacrifice of our veterans and provides our community with an opportunity to thank our veterans for their contributions to our great nation. Each year's ceremony is conducted at 11 AM, November 11. We hope to see you there.
Memorial Pavers
Purchase a Memorial Brick Paver
Would you like to honor a veteran in your life? Consider the purchase of an inscribed paver at the Veterans Memorial at Magnolia Cemetery. The pavers are 4"x8" and will be inscribed with the name of your veteran or your personal message. The cost of memorial pavers is $100 each.
To purchase a memorial paver, download the Memorial Brick Paver form and mail it with your payment to the Historical Society of Orange Park, P.O. Box 08, Orange Park, FL 32067. Please make your check payable to Historical Society of Orange Park. All proceeds will go toward the support and maintenance of the Veterans Memorial at Magnolia Cemetery.
Due to the minimum order requirements of our paver supplier, one annual paver order will be made for all paver requests received by July 31. This will allow time to procure and install new pavers prior to the annual Veterans Day Ceremony on November 11.
For more details contact us at info@ophistory.org.
Veterans dayt
2024 Veterans Day Essay Contest
The Historical Society sponsors an essay contest each year to encourage Clay County students to consider our veterans and contemplate the meaning of Veterans Day. Each year our students respond and never fail to impress. The winners of the 2024 essay contest were as follows:
Elementary Division
Topic: Why We Celebrate Veterans Day
Winner
Macey Mealor, Paterson Elementary; Teacher: Lina Myers
Honorable Mention
Leevi Killebrew, Orange Park Elementary; Teacher: Wendi Stephens
Olivia Sirdevan, Paterson Elementary; Teacher: Lina Myers
Junior High Division
Topic: A Veteran Who Inspires Me
Winner
Amira Hawks, Green Cove Springs, Jr.; Teacher: Leah Fogle
Honorable Mention
Callie Boggs, Green Cove Springs Junior High; Teacher: Leah Fogle
Kamila Rodriquez Velasquez, Lake Asbury Junior High; Teacher: Jeannet Burley
Senior High Division
Topic: How veterans demonstrate “Duty, Honor, Country” throughout their lives
Winner
Dylan Collins, Clay High School; Teacher: Chadwick Rix
Honorable Mention
Hannah G. Owen, Ridgeview High School
The students submitting the winning essays in each category were invited to read their essays at the annual Veterans Day Ceremony. Copies of the wining essays can be downloaded below.
