Welcome!

Wake Forest Memorial Day Picnic is hosted by Hope Baptist Church to bring the community together to honor veterans who have served our country and give glory to God for His providential acts in our history. Bring the whole family on May 28 to come and celebrate this special day by listening to veterans from WWII to the present share their stories, eat a free North Carolina Barbecue lunch, ride in historic military vehicles, and participate in an exciting children's parade to honor the veterans present.

Military Vehicle Rides

Veterans of all Ages

There are activities for people young and old! This year we will have a special children's parade with military vehicles, classic cars, children in period clothing representing various American wars, and war veterans in uniform. There will be an exciting living history corner by the MacIntire brothers of "Soldiering through History". Demonstrating the life of WWII soldier in combat. Throughout the day enjoy live bluegrass music by the Froemming Family and performances by George Nichols and the Blue Gospel Trio. The delicious Carolina Barbecue lunch is free to all who attend. This is a rain or shine event held under the big tent at the Brown Farm on Quarry Rd. in Wake Forest. There will be vendors selling ice cream, drinks, and Italian ice. With over 1,000 people attending the seating will be limited so be sure to bring your own picnic blankets and lawn chairs. Join us for another memorable Memorial Day!

Free Barbecue Lunch

Perfect Event for Children

Live Old Fashioned Music

About The Event

About Event

Hope Baptist Church of Wake Forest, North Carolina hosts this event to encourage the community to come together and honor those who have served in our military and thank God for His protection throughout American history. The event is open to the public and is designed for entire families with activities that are sure to make this a special and memorable day for everyone!
Activities:

Parade

The Children's Parade will start at 10:00 AM. Children are invited to dress up in clothing representing time periods in American history and participate by marching in the parade. Veterans are invited to come in uniform are welcome to ride in the military vehicles and classic cars in the parade, or march if they prefer. Military vehicle and classic car owners are invited to bring their vehicles to drive in the parade. If you are bringing a vehicle please use the contact form to let us know what you are bringing.

Living History Corner

The McIntire Brothers of “Soldiering Through History” will host a "living history" corner demonstrating a soldier's life during WWII. They will be on site in WWII reenactment uniforms to talk to kids and display period military items in use and explain the history behind them. Children can get pictures with them in and around foxholes and military equipment. During the afternoon, they will be reenacting a WWII mission assignment.

North Carolina Barbecue

There's nothing quite like a North Carolina Barbecue and the Memorial Day Picnic team has been perfecting it at this event for the past decade. Fresh grilled pork barbecue is served with coleslaw and hushpuppies and will leave you full and satisfied. And the best part? It's free!

Military Vehicle Rides

Riding in the classic restored Jeeps, giant Deuce troop transport trucks, or on flatbed hayrides is usually a highlight for the children. These are restored vehicles from the WWII era and will give you a thrill to think about what it would have been like to ride these back then.

Patriotic Speeches

The platform under the big tent has a full schedule of inspiring patriot speeches, stories, and testimonies from veterans and local leaders. This is the highlight of the event. Listen to veterans from WWII up to Afghanistan and Iraq tell stories about their adventures and experiences in war. Speakers this year will include Bill Brown who as a P-51 pilot during WWII had to ditch his plane and parachute into the ocean, the Price brothers telling their stories from the European and Pacific theaters of WWII and the Korean War, Paul Barton, Green Beret Colonel, and many more! Afterwards there will be opportunities to speak with veterans and all visitors are encouraged to take the opportunity with their children to express gratitude to them individually for the personal sacrifice they have each made.

Music and Entertainment

This year we will be featuring the Froemming Family Band, with a great mix of gospel bluegrass and original music together for a wonderful performance. This family band will perform songs that they have written as well as many old time favorites. George Nichols and the Gospel Band Trio will be returning with another toe-tapping performance featuring good old bluegrass music.

What To Bring

With well over 1,000 people attending seating can get tight so be sure to bring your own picnic blanket and lawnchairs and some to share! The sun is usually shining nice and bright so sunscreen is recommended. There will be water and ice tea available throughout the day and various vendors will be selling cold drinks, ice cream and Italian ice to cool you down.
View Gallery

Speakers

Scott Brown - Scott Brown is the host of the Memorial Day Picnic. A pastor at Hope Baptist Church in Wake Forest, each year he opens his farm up to host this special event. He and his wife Deborah have 4 children all of whom live in the Wake Forest area. http://www.scottbrownonline.com/
Bill Brown - Bill Brown was a P-51 pilot in Pacific theater of WWII. During one mission he was shot down and had to parachute into Tokyo Bay. His story of God's providence has been an inspiration to many throughout the years. He appears on The League of Grateful Sons and has a biography titled Coming in on a Wing and a Prayer. He and his wife Mary live on the Brown Farm in Wake Forest, NC
"Colonel" Bill Henderson - As a member of the Marine Corps, Bill Henderson survived thirty-six days of brutal fighting on Iwo Jima. His Christian faith enabled him to remain strong during times of conflict. He also appears on The League of Grateful Sons and lives in Raleigh, NC.
Dan Horn - An elder at Hope Baptist Church, Dan Horn owns and operates Datatek, Inc., a small software firm. He and his Kendra have been married for twenty years and have three children. They live in Youngsville NC.

The Schedule

+ 9:30-10:45     Flag Raising, Hayrides, Games
+ 10:45-12:00     Music, Veteran Testimonies, Patriotic Speeches
+ 12:05-1:30     Lunch Break
+ 1:30-3:00     Music, Veteran Testimonies, Patriotic Speeches, Reading of Casualty List
+ 3:00     National Moment of Rememberance

Address:

3721 Quarry Rd

wake forest, nc 27587

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Hope to see you there!

Psalm 91

¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
   will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.^[a]
² I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
   my God, in whom I trust.”
³ Surely he will save you
   from the fowler’s snare
   and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
   and under his wings you will find refuge;
   his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
   nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
   nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
   ten thousand at your right hand,
   but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
   and see the punishment of the wicked.
⁹ If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
   and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
   no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
   to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
   so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
   you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
¹⁴ “Because he^[b] loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
   I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
   I will be with him in trouble,
   I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
   and show him my salvation.”