Fourth of July picnic brings out patriotism, volunteers

Boy Scouts lined up in front of Pepin Park bandstand, standing at attention.

They marched forward, placed the flag on the podium, stood back and smartly saluted, formally kicking off the 14th annual Fourth of July Community Music Festival and Barbecue,

On the sidelines, Vince Woodwick, co-organizer of the event, was giving words of encouragement to the Pratt family, that was about to step forward and sing the national anthem.

"Now when you get done, I will take you right up to the front of the food line," he said.

When they completed their song, the other co-organizer, Allen "Woody" Woodwick, formally declared the festivities underway. That was at noon when all the posters said the barbecue would begin.

But actually this Havre tradition had begun hour earlier.

Volunteers showed up early to set up the sound system that had been donated by Milk River Band, start the grill that would cook up the hamburgers, and set up the lines of tables where the burgers, chips, baked beans and watermelon would be dished out.

By noon, hundreds of people were in lawn chairs set up around the park, chatting and laughing. Lots of people who have moved away from Havre return for the barbecue.

The festival-goers and the volunteer-base included a lot more than Havre residents.

Boy Scout Jeffrey Hummert is from Gildford. He came in from a weekend camping trip at Fresno.

He stood in line, waiting for his turn at the hamburgers. The lines got long, but there was nothing but laughter and good times as people waited for their food.

"I chose to come in because I wanted to honor my country," Hummert said, referring to his role in the opening ceremonies. "I wanted to honor my country and those who had fallen."

Tasia Hawley's role was to dish out watermelon as people walked through the line.

"Watermelon?' she repeated several times as people walked by.

"I just volunteered," said Hawley, who came in from Fort Belknap.

She has volunteered for events at Fort Belknap, but this was the first time she's been involved in the Havre barbecue.

"I like to help people. I like to see all different kinds of people who come out."

"My aunt and my mom came, my aunt volunteered, so I figured I should to," said Nathan Singer of Havre as he dished out baked beans.

At the bandstand, a passerby, pointing to the crowded park, gave Vince Woodwick a thumbs up.

"You pulled it off again," he told Woodwick.

"I didn't do this alone," Woodwick responded.

Hundreds of people volunteered to help out in various ways, he said.