Texas State Railroad 16th Annual Memorial Day Salute to the Armed Forces

All Aboard!  The Texas State Railroad presents the 16th Annual Memorial Day Salute to the Armed Forces. This year’s event has been expanded to three days Friday, Saturday & Sunday, May 23, 24 & 25 of Memorial Day weekend.

This year’s highlight is the travelling replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall and its accompanying Cost of Freedom Tribute.

The event will also showcase military re-enactment groups, living history exhibits, static military exhibits, booths by military support groups, equipment displays by first responders, booths by paid vendors, food vendors, a children’s activity area and much more.

Groups will represent the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War. Delta Company 3-144 Infantry Regiment of the Texas Army National Guard will represent those currently serving our country.

The Patriot Train will run three times each day, at 10am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm to the Jarvis Wye and back. The ride is roughly an hour in length. All current and former military with ID will be able to ride the train for free.

Each day will begin at 9am with a flag raising ceremony including an honor guard, prayer and speaker. Each day will end at 5pm with a lowering of the colors.

On Saturday, the East Texas Acapella Ensemble will perform mostly patriotic music at 11:30am and 1:30pm in the big tent.

The AVTT Traveling Wall will arrive on Wednesday, May 21. At 3pm, The Patriot Guard and other groups will escort The Wall on its five mile route from the Palestine Mall parking lot to the Texas State Railroad Palestine Depot. Setup for The Wall will begin at 8am on Thursday. Once it is set up it will be available for viewing 24/7 at the Palestine Depot until take-down begins at 8am on Monday, May 26.

LIST OF EXHIBITS AND ACTIVITIES

 For more information, call 903-683-3451 or go to www.TexasStateRR.com.

The purpose of this annual event is to pay tribute to all branches and all eras of service to our country.

*We want to honor those who have served or are currently serving in the military with a FREE ride on this special train that will be decked out in red, white and blue! Offer extends to military members only with valid ID. Does not include other family or dependent IDs.