Memorial Day Celebration Event



The 13th Annual Memorial Day Celebration Event will be held at the Texas State Railroad Palestine Depot on Memorial Day Weekend to honor the Armed Forces. The event begins on Friday, May 28th with an opportunity for the public to view a historic version of a WWII military armament train as it arrives at the Palestine Depot for the weekend event; the event ends on May 31st with a special Memorial Day Train Ride.



A full-day of activities is scheduled on Saturday and Sunday. There will be many living history exhibits from 1776 to present, UH-1E Huey helicopter rides, Memorial Day Ceremony and 21 Gun Salute (Sunday at 12pm) and new this year: extreme scale tank models from the collection of Dave “The Tank Man” Schultz; military equipment and vehicle rides; and special roundtrip re-enactment train rides (10:00am & 2:30pm) from the Palestine Depot to the Jarvis Wye to emerge passengers in history as they view in a WWII battle at the “Rinehausen” German village that has been created.



The special WWII Military armament train that was created for the Memorial Day Celebration consists of Texas State Railroad’s period equipment including “General Patton’s” private car, a restored WWII vintage car, created by staff member Robert Gore, and military vehicles and artillery from the collection of Tom Townsend, a local military vehicle collector from Rusk.



To complete the special celebration weekend, there is a special Memorial Day Maydelle Turntable Special Train Excursion departing from the Palestine Depot on Monday, May 31st at 11:00am to 1:45pm.



The re-enactment train rides at 10:00am and 2:30pm on Saturday and Sunday are $15 per person (ages 3 & over). Active Military with identification ride free. Tickets for the Maydelle Turntable Special Train Excursion on Memorial Day are $36.50 for Adults (12 & over) and $19.00 for Children (3 - 11) in coach and open-air seating. Additional charges for climate-controlled seating. Active Military and Veterans with identification ride free. A $5 parking fee will be collected at the entrance all weekend. Advanced reservations are recommended. For reservations call 1-888-987-2461 or visit www.TexasStateRR.com.