Veteran Legacy Inaugural Community Festival

The Inaugural Veteran Legacy Community Festival is a free veteran, military family, and community event taking place Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM at the Jacksonville Beach Seawalk Pavilion, 75 1st Street N, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250.

Hosted by Veteran Legacy, a veteran-focused community initiative founded by Marine Corps veteran Douglas Wilkerson through Freeman Douglas Corp, the festival brings together veterans, active-duty service members, military families, veteran nonprofit organizations, military recruiters, local businesses, first responders, community organizations, and families from Jacksonville and throughout Northeast Florida.

The Veteran Legacy Community Festival is designed to connect the Northeast Florida military and veteran community with real people, organizations, services, resources, and opportunities in one location while creating a family-friendly day of celebration and remembrance.

The festival will feature veteran nonprofit and resource organizations, U.S. military recruiting representatives, community vendors, food trucks, family activities and inflatables, military and first-responder displays, a live podcast, DJ and live music.

The day begins with the festival opening at 9:00 AM, followed by the Opening Ceremony, Presentation of Colors and National Anthem at 10:00 AM. At 10:30 AM, Heroes in the Sky: Remembering the Fallen will honor fallen service members with a tribute and moment of silence. Community festivities begin at 11:00 AM, followed by a live podcast at 1:00 PM and live music later in the afternoon.

Veteran Legacy was created to help veterans and military families gain access to the education, resources, relationships, and strategic guidance necessary to make informed decisions about homeownership, VA benefits, military relocation, financial opportunities, and life after military service. Its core belief is that the VA home loan benefit, when properly understood and strategically used, can be more than a zero-down mortgage—it can be a tool for stability, mobility, and long-term wealth.

The Community Festival expands that mission beyond homeownership by creating a physical gathering place where veterans and military families can connect directly with organizations serving the military community.

Veteran Legacy is an initiative of Freeman Douglas Corp, founded by Douglas Wilkerson. Freeman Douglas develops mortgage education, consumer resources, strategic partnerships, community programs, and systems designed to help consumers identify and make better real-estate financing decisions. Eligible mortgage transactions are originated through Edge Home Finance.

Admission to the Veteran Legacy Community Festival is free and the event is open to the public. Veterans, active-duty military members, military spouses, military families, first responders, Jacksonville Beach residents, Northeast Florida families, and members of the general public are invited to attend.

Event: Inaugural Veteran Legacy Community Festival

Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026

Time: 9:00 AM–7:00 PM

Location: Jacksonville Beach Seawalk Pavilion

Address: 75 1st Street N, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Admission: Free and open to the public

Host: Veteran Legacy

Founded by: Douglas Wilkerson, Marine Corps Veteran

Organization: Freeman Douglas Corp

Area Served: Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Naval Station Mayport, NAS Jacksonville, St. Johns County, Clay County, Nassau County and the greater Northeast Florida military and veteran community.

Learn more about the festival, participating organizations, sponsors, community partners and Veteran Legacy:

https://vet-legacy.com/community-impact

Learn more about Freeman Douglas Corp:

https://freemandouglas.com