Memorial Day is often a solemn day when many in this great nation pay tribute to the fallen soldiers who served in our country’s armed forces. And while we all enjoy sleeping in and doing nothing on this four-day weekend, there are some worthwhile, Memorial Day-related events that’ll be happening on Monday to get you up and out.
For example, a local businessman is taking on the American cliché of Memorial Day being all about mattress sales — by closing his mattress store. Youval Meicler, owner of Texas Mattress Makers, wants Memorial Day to be about veterans and their family members. “Most people don’t even know what Memorial Day is,” Meicler says. So he and his crew at Texas Mattress Makers are supporting “Pull-Ups for a Purpose,” an event raising awareness about PTSD and how Camp Hope helps veterans and their families. The event takes place on Memorial Day (Monday, May 28) at 9724 Derrington Rd. Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen and Jimmy Changa’s are partnering on the event, which starts at 8 am.
Jonathan Kim, of Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen & Jimmy Changas will attempt 2,000 pull-ups in a 10 hour and 30 minute time-frame. Companies and individuals will have the opportunity to donate a flat donation amount, or pledge an amount per pull up in order to help meet the $100,000 goal. One hundred percent of all proceeds will go directly to the PTSD Foundation of America, Camp Hope.
Here are some other ways to spend Memorial Day.
Pay your respects
The American Undersea Warfare Center at Galveston's Seawolf Park will honor fallen servicemen and women in a ceremony at the park's Memorial Plaza. It starts at 12:30 pm.
The Memorial Day Ceremony, a ninth-annual event sponsored by the city of Sugar Land, will honor the men and women of U.S. Armed Forces at Sugar Land Memorial Park. It starts at 10 am.
The Boardwalk Towne Lake in Cypress will host a Memorial Day lantern lighting. Residents and guests will get a chance to write a note and light an appreciative lantern. It starts at 7:30 pm.
Stretch, shop, and splash
Freedom Flow on the Square lets you start off Memorial Day by getting in a limber state with a free, heart-opening yoga class that’ll happen over at Revolution Studio. It starts at 9:30 am.
Gallery Auctions, Inc. will have a Memorial Day auction, where antiques, bronzes, fountains, handmade rugs, and designer furniture will be up for bidding. It starts at 10 am.
Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center will host a Memorial Day pool party, complete with prizes, music, food, etc. Cool down and get wet over at 10 am.
Brews and barbecue
Showtime Bar and Lounge will be serving up drinks, crawfish, and barbecue all during Memorial Day. You can even get free crawfish with a drink purchase. DJ Tune will be on the turntables. It starts at noon.
Conservatory will be open during normal business hours, with an all-day happy hour at the Beer Garden (all 60 drafts & select whiskeys $4) and the $1 Firesale happening at 4 pm. It starts at 11 am.
El Gato Coffeehouse Cat Café lets you spend Memorial Day with some friendly felines while you sip coffee. There will also be a sale of their “meowchandise.” It starts at noon.
Heaven on Earth: The Biggest All White Party of Texas hosted by Capitol Bar, is looking for folks to get decked out in their finest white duds. It will be free all day (with RSVP). It starts at 2 pm.
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SportsMap's Fred Faour contributed to this story.
Pay your respects and visit a piece of local military history in Galveston.
