Happy Monday, Civvie!

Fleet Week Houston may be over, but the momentum across the Houston veteran community keeps rolling. The ships have sailed, yet the calendar remains full of opportunities to connect, grow, and stay plugged in throughout the weeks ahead.

This week brings a Veteran Resource Fair and the Next Op Derby Day Fundraiser, followed by a strong lineup in May featuring career support, benefits help, Topgolf, legal clinics, fishing outings, public speaking workshops, and family-friendly gatherings across the region.

This week’s spotlight features founders of Turrango’s, a family-built mobile shooting simulator business creating experiences centered on competition, fun, and patriotism. Their story is a reminder that some businesses do more than generate revenue. They bring people together and actively support the veteran community along the way.

Whether you’re looking for resources, relationships, business opportunities, or simply a place to be around fellow veterans, there is plenty ahead.

Civvie Up 🤠🐎🫡

📆 VETERAN EVENTS
THIS WEEK

💼 April 27
Veteran Resource Fair

🕡 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
📍Houston, TX

Connect with valuable services and support, including benefits and resource information, job opportunities, and free giveaways.

🏇 May 2
Next Op Derby Day Fundraiser

🕡 3:30 PM
📍Houston

Experience the excitement of the Derby with fellow veterans. Enter the race raffle, bid on silent auction items, and enjoy the festive atmosphere while supporting a great cause.

NEXT WEEK

🤝 May 4
VetConnect Day

🕡 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
📍Pasadena, TX

Where job opportunities, veteran services, and community resources come together in one place for our veterans. Free and open to the public.

📋 May 7
Veterans Nexus Letter Workshop

🕡 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
📍Houston, TX

Learn why VA claims get denied, how to improve your approval chances, and receive a $50 credit.

👢 May 9
8th Annual Boots & Heroes Kickoff Party

🕡 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍Houston, TX

Come out for an evening of patriotism, community, and celebration as we kick off another amazing year of Boots & Heroes!

🗣️ May 11
Public Speaking for Veterans

🕡 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍Houston, TX

Join Stay Tuned for Vets for a veteran-only public speaking workshop focused on confidence, communication, stage presence, and helping you share your story with impact.

OTHER MAY EVENTS

⚖️ May 16
Military & Veterans Legal Advice Clinic

🕡 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
📍Houston, TX

A legal clinic for veterans in need of support, with complimentary lunch and museum admission included.

🎣 May 23
Reel Connect: Veteran Family Fun Fishing & Resource Fair

🕡 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
📍Katy

A family-friendly event bringing veterans together for fishing, community connection, and access to valuable resources and support services.

🌹 May 25
Victory for Veterans | Flower on Every Grave

🕡 8:00 AM
📍Houston

Ensure every veteran's resting place is adorned with a flower, symbolizing our undying gratitude and the promise that their sacrifices will never be forgotten.

🇺🇸 May 26
Mini Wooden Flags Workshop for Veterans

🕡 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍Friendswood

This is a free hands-on mini wooden flag workshop and create your own custom charred and painted American flag in a fun, supportive setting.

NEXT MONTH

📋 June 11
Veterans Health & Resource Fair

🕡 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
📍Dayton

An event to connect Houston-area veterans with resources, opportunities, and community support.

🫡 Know an Event We Should Share?

If you’re hosting or attending a veteran-focused event in the Houston area → [Submit here]

🌟 THE CIVVIE SPOTLIGHT

Bringing People Together Through Competition, Fun, and Patriotism

Some businesses are built to sell a product.

Others are built to create an experience.

That is exactly what Joe and Cyndi Turrigiano set out to do withTurrango’s, a Houston-area mobile shooting simulator business that blends entertainment, competition, and connection in a way few people have seen before.

For Joe, support for the military runs deep. Raised as an Army brat, he spent his childhood on military bases, following the path of a family rooted in service. His father served as an Army aviator, his grandfather earned a Purple Heart in World War II, Cyndi’s Dad served in the Army as well and multiple family members have worn the uniform, including their son, who served seven years in the Air Force.

That lifelong connection to military culture helped shape a strong respect for those who serve and a desire to stay involved with the veteran community.

After years of working traditional jobs and building entrepreneurial ideas on the side, Joe and Cindy eventually decided it was time to build something of their own.

That idea became Turrango's.

What started as a brick-and-mortar concept evolved into a mobile business that now brings high-tech shooting simulators directly to corporate events, fundraisers, schools, and community gatherings.

But this is not a standard range experience.

Their setups are designed to be social, interactive, and fun.

Guests can compete on leaderboards, challenge coworkers, play zombie scenarios, test hunting skills, or run custom games designed around a company’s brand or event theme. It turns shooting simulation into a crowd-friendly experience that works for both seasoned enthusiasts and first-timers alike.

That flexibility has opened doors across Houston and beyond.

Today, Turrango’s works with corporate groups, nonprofits, law enforcement, schools, and veteran organizations. They have also supported causes that matter deeply to them, including partnerships with veteran-focused nonprofits and fundraising events.

Their support for the military community is not just symbolic.

It is active.

Whether helping veterans organizations raise money, participating in community events, or showing up at gatherings like the recent Veterans Business Battle and Valor & Victory Fest, Joe and Cindy continue to invest their time and business into causes larger than themselves.

At its core, Turrango’s represents more than entertainment.

It is a family-built business rooted in freedom, fun, and appreciation for those who serve.

Learn more, book an event, support their work, and follow their journey.

👉 https://turrangos.com/

🤝 GET INVOLVED

• Tell us about yourself: Let us hear from you → [Share here]

• Know of a veteran event? Submit it → [Submit here]

• Have a story idea, business, or veteran to spotlight? Send it → [Send it here]

• Want to advertise or partner with The Civvie? Reach out → [Contact us]