Memorial Day Armed Forces event at Texas State Railroad

Released by the Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce:

15th Annual Event Offers Visitors a Chance to Step Back in Military History to Celebrate Our Armed Force. Rusk, Texas ? The 15th Annual?Memorial Day Armed Forces Event will be held at the Texas State Railroad on May 25, 26 and 27, 2012. The event offers visitors a chance to see military history come to life with a U.S.O. show and dinner, mock battle train rides, and other activities throughout the weekend.?

On Friday, May 25th, the event begins with a historic military transport one-way train ride from the Rusk Depot with a special consist that includes freight cars with vintage military tanks and vehicles. On Saturday, May 26th, at the Palestine Depot, activities include two mock battle train rides to the ?German Village of Rheinhausen?, a U.S.O. Show and Dinner with live musical entertainment from a 1940?s Swing Band, and living history exhibits, reenactments, veterans memorial ceremony, and Huey helicopter rides. On Sunday, May 27th, the weekend concludes with a mock battle train ride and the return of the military transport train to Rusk.

??This is a special event that we are proud to be a part of each year,? said Dave Schranck, General Manager. ?We are especially excited about the 1940?s USO Show and Dinner that will be held on Saturday evening at the Copeland Center, at the Lakeview Methodist Conference Center which includes a delicious dinner, a great swing band, and dancing.?

Ticket prices for each activity or train ride range from $5.00 to $35.00. A special Patton Package option is available for $60.00 per person (ages 2 and over), which includes a ticket to the USO Show Dinner and one of the mock battle train rides. All train rides during the weekend include seating in the premium Lone Star Class. The one-way historic military transport train ride on Friday and Sunday are free to veterans and active military families, based on availability. Advanced?reservations are recommended. For reservations, visit www.TexasStateRR.com or call 1-888-987-2461.

The Texas State Railroad is the Official Railroad of Texas and is truly ?A Texas Treasure!? This historic tourist railroad offers steam train excursions through the scenic piney woods of East Texas and departs from Rusk, Texas. Special events and dinner trains are held throughout the year. For more information and reservations, visit www.TexasStateRR.com or call 1-888-987-2461.The Texas State Railroad is proud to support the Memorial Military Weekend event because even though Decoration Day commemorated Union soldiers who died in the Civil War, it was extended after World War I and helped to heal the division between the Union and former Confederacy to honor all Americans who have died in all wars. For many people, Memorial Day marks the start of the summer vacation season, but to many of Texas State Railroad employees and its management, Memorial Day is a time to honor those who defended our nation?s freedom.

Our Military Event is able to exist only because of the many volunteers who share their time, energy, and collections to demonstrate the reality of our history and the fact that we only continue to exist as the greatest nation in the world due to the sacrifice of our citizens during times of war. We participate in the general expressions of memory for all deceased relatives at this time, and we believe it is especially important to remember our fallen defenders- we owe our freedom to their sacrifices. We hope that everyone will come out to the Texas State Railroad at Palestine and share the Memorial Day tradition, especially with their children who will be able to see first-hand the equipment and conditions that our forefathers lived with.

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