The 2nd Annual Veterans Family Picnic will be at Wilson Park on Saturday, November 15, from 11:00 – 2:00! This is a FREE event for all Veterans, their families, friends, and everyone else who appreciates the work and sacrifices these men and women have made for us and our country. We celebrate our Veterans!
The event will open with the Union County High School choir singing the National Anthem and the JROTC presenting the colors. Harley Martin will be on hand to entertain with a mix of gospel and contemporary music. And Pastor Darryl Wiliams and Friends will play bluegrass, gospel, and country. Veteran TJ Stanley will bring his cornhole game and horseshoes for anyone who wants to try out their skills.

Pitmaster Fred England will prepare 20 pork butts, which should yield around 540 BBQ sandwiches. No one will go away hungry. Fred is a volunteer with the Mercy Chefs, a faith-based, non-profit disaster and humanitarian relief organization. After the catastrophic Hurricane Ian, they prepared as many as 20,000 meals a day for 7 days straight.

The process of preparing the pork butts starts with the marinade. The seasonings are applied to the meat, and the pork is left in the fridge overnight. It then takes about 10-12 hours to smoke the meat properly, but Fred stresses that it is not the time that is important – it’s the temperature. He smokes his meat at 240 degrees, and the middle of the pork butts needs to register 205 degrees. His smoker is a Southern Pride Commercial Smoker, and it sits on a Hurst trailer designed and built just for it. Pretty impressive! If you or your kids are not particularly fond of BBQ, there will be hot dogs, and the 33 Diner will again donate their delicious chicken tenders.

Veteran Service Officer Mark Cook will have forms for any Veteran or family of a Veteran who would like to have a plaque placed on the Union County Veterans Wall. The Union County Commission is grateful to our Veterans, and they showed their appreciation when they voted to ensure that veterans should not have to pay for their plaques. The county will foot the bill. Any honorably discharged Veteran, alive or dead, may have their plaque placed on the wall.

Members of the American Legion Post 212 will be at the picnic to accept monetary donations to support the Legion's efforts to provide Christmas baskets to veterans and their widows again this year. This special day will end at 2:00 with the playing of Taps.

Don’t forget! Mark your calendar. Set your alarm—Saturday, November 15, from 11:00 to 2:00 at Wilson Park. Bring a chair and set awhile. Please help us celebrate our Veterans!