Thomasville's Memorial Day Parade
2026-05-25 08:30 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
For over 30 years Thomasville has hosted North Carolina Memorial Day Parade and Celebration It has become the largest such event in the Southeastern United States. Festivities typically include a parade, members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, military bands, paratroopers, Blackhawk helicopters, Vietnam era helicopters, participants from all branches of the armed forces, a keynote address from a high national-ranking military official, free hot dogs, drinks and much more

Route from I-85 to Staging Area 2026 Thomasville Memorial Day Parade
Once again on May 25th, the Nat Greene Base and possibility the Tarheel Base will be participating in Thomasville’s Memorial Day Parade. Attachment #1 is the brochure that lists all the activities associated with this Memorial Day Celebration.
Plans are that Frank Gardner will have the Mk-14 Torpedo Float at the parade staging area between 8:00am and 8:30am. Those subvets wanting to participate in this year’s parade need to be at the staging area by 9:00am. The float has room for 16 subvets to ride on it.
The staging area and nearby parking on East Main Street are shown on Attachment #2.

If you are coming to Thomasville using I-85, Attachment #3 Route from I-85 to Staging Area3 shows the suggested route to the staging area. NC 109 will be blocked at West Main Street. So, heading to East Main Street, you need to use Julian Avenue to East Main Street. This road bears to the right off of NC 109 just past the Sunrise Dinner on the left.
If you are coming to Thomasville on Business I-85 now designated as US 29, Attachment #4 Route from US-29 to Staging Areashows the suggested route to the staging area. NC 109 will be blocked before East Main Street. So, heading towards East Main Street on NC 109, you need to turn left onto Unity Street and then right onto National Highway to East Main Street.

Please reply to this email if you are planning on coming or call Frank at 757-582-0891, so we will know how many to expect will be there.

137th Soldiers Reunion Parade - Newton, NC
2026-08-20
Catawba County’s historic patriotic event, Soldiers Reunion, is when, for a week, in mid-August, its war veterans are honored through different family-oriented activities. The Soldiers Reunion began on July 4th, 1889, marking this year (2026) the 137 years that the festival has taken place. It is believed to be one of the longest-running patriotic celebrations, not based upon a holiday, in America. The 1889 gathering on the court square led to annual “Soldiers Reunions”, starting the popular patriotic event, then called “Old Soldiers Reunion”; the event then dropped the “old” part of its name, to the now known “Soldiers Reunion”, to better embrace veterans and soldiers of past and present times. Now the celebration continues to offer a variety of events, to honor our veterans and soldiers, that they and the community enjoy, many events of which are still centered around the ever popular 1924 Courthouse Square.
This event attracts tens of thousands of spectators to downtown Newton for a week of honor and remembering local veterans while stimulating the economic growth of the community. For more about the 5 days of events visit http://www.soldiersreunion.org
Submarine veterans wishing to ride the torpedo float in the parade will meet at was once Western Steer 334 SW Blvd, Newton, NC by 1700..

Nat Greene Base Annual Picnic - September 5th
2026-09-05 11:00 | Triad Park – Field of Honor, 9652 W. Main, Kernersville, NC, 27284, United States
The Nat Greene Base Annual Picnic will be held September 5th at Triad Park, Shed #7 Muster at 11am. There will be a short ceremony followed by lunch around noon. Let Frank Gardner you plan to attend and the number of guests/family you plan to bring.
