Happy Monday, Civvie!

Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner. It’s about coming together, honoring those who sacrificed the ultimate, and supporting the community that continues the mission.

Starting off, there’s real support available with a Benefits Claims Filing Clinic, followed by a full Saturday lineup with a Memorial Day Benefit, Reel Connect fishing event, and Vets & Vibes bringing veterans together across Houston.

Memorial Day itself carries the meaning it should. From Flower on Every Grave honoring the fallen, to a family-friendly carnival supporting local veterans, the focus stays on remembrance, gratitude, and giving back.

This week’s spotlight highlights a Navy veteran continuing his mission by helping others build stability and long-term wealth through real estate. A reminder that the next chapter after service is about building something that lasts.

If you’ve been meaning to show up, this is your week.

Civvie Up 🤠🐎🫡

📆 VETERAN EVENTS

THIS WEEK

📄 May 21, Thursday
Veteran Claims Filing Clinic

🕡 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
📍Houston

Need help filing a new or secondary VA claim? Join us at the West End Multi-Service Center on May 21, 2026, and connect with one of eight claims reps ready to assist.

📄 May 21, Thursday
Veteran Beer Club Meet Up

🕡 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍Houston

Calling all veterans, active duty, reserve, and retired military. Veterans Beer Club is launching in Houston. Have a beer. Find a career. Build community.

🎶 May 23, Saturday
Memorial Day Benefit

🕡 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
📍Tomball

Join us at Tomball Social Haus for a benefit honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Enjoy live music, drink specials, and an all-day gathering while supporting U.S. VETS.

🎣 May 23, Saturday
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 23, Saturday
Vets & Vibes

🕡 3:00 PM
📍Magnolia

Join this relaxed meetup to unwind, share stories, and connect with others who get it. Grab a drink, talk some trash, share a laugh, or just listen.

NEXT WEEK

🌹 May 25, Monday
Victory for Veterans | Flower on Every Grave

🕡 8:00 AM
📍Houston, TX

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 25, Monday
Memorial Day Family Carnival | Supporting Local Veterans

🕡 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
📍Sugar Land

A high-energy, family-friendly carnival backed by a mission that matters. All proceeds benefit Operation Patriot Packs and their work serving local veterans.

🇺🇸 May 26, Tuesday
Mini Wooden Flags Workshop for Veterans

🕡 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍Friendswood, TX

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.

🎖️ May 30
Flags of Honor: 6th Annual Memorial Day Veterans Flag Planting

🕡 8:30 AM
📍Houston

Memorial Day flag planting at Houston National Cemetery honoring fallen heroes.

NEXT MONTH

🎖️ May 30
Flags of Honor: 6th Annual Memorial Day Veterans Flag Planting

🕡 8:30 AM
📍Houston

Memorial Day flag planting at Houston National Cemetery honoring fallen heroes.

🏉 May 30, Saturday
The Patriots Charity Classic

🕡 8:00 AM - Midnight
📍Spring

It’s a full day of community, competition (Rugby 7's), great food, live music, and giving back in support of the PTSD Foundation of America.

NEXT MONTH

🏓 June 3, Wednesday
Veterans Pickleball Tournament

🕡 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
📍Webster

Fun, competition, and camaraderie while supporting veteran families for Veteran College Grants.

🏌️‍♂️June 4, Thursday
3rd Annual Golf to Honor Vets

🕡 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
📍Texas City

Fun on the greens with a purpose. Join us for a great day of golf while raising funds to support local veterans and the programs that make a real impact.

💼 June 5, Friday
Veteran Career Transitional Workshop

🕡 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
📍Houston

Join Career Gear Houston for a hands-on workshop designed to help veterans build confidence, sharpen their résumé, prepare for interviews, and connect directly with employers.

📋 June 11, Thursday
Veterans Health & Resource Fair

🕡 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
📍Dayton

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

👩 June 12, Friday
Women Veterans Recognition Day

🕡 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
📍Conroe

Join American Legion Post 411 at the Honor Cafe for an evening honoring the service and impact of women veterans. Enjoy camaraderie, dinner, and drinks.

🫡 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

Building Stability After Service. Helping Veterans With Their Next Move

Transitioning out of the military comes with a lot of unknowns, but first and foremost, the question of where to live.

For one Navy veteran in Houston, that transition became a new mission.

After 20 years of service in the United States Navy, including time as an aviation ordnance man and retiring as a Chief, Jay Workman built a career centered on precision, leadership, and responsibility. From working aboard ships like the USS Wasp and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower to supporting search and rescue and medevac missions overseas, his time in uniform was defined by high-stakes environments and service to others.

Like many veterans, the transition out of the military was not as structured as the journey in.

While programs like TAP provide a baseline, the reality is that many service members are left to figure things out on their own. That experience shaped Jay’s perspective and ultimately influenced the direction he chose after service.

Instead of stepping away from service, he found a new way to continue it.

Today, Jay is a real estate professional based in the Houston area, focused on helping veterans and families navigate one of the most important decisions they will make after leaving the military.

But for him, real estate is not just about buying and selling homes.

It is about creating stability, building wealth, and educating veterans on opportunities they often do not fully understand.

Having personally used the VA home loan, Jay saw firsthand how powerful the benefit can be. Yet he also recognized a major gap.

Most veterans only scratch the surface.

They think the VA loan is simply about no money down. What they miss are the deeper advantages. Avoiding private mortgage insurance. Accessing better interest structures. Leveraging the benefit multiple times. Even using it as a foundation to build long-term real estate portfolios.

He is focused not just on transactions, but on education and guidance. Helping veterans understand how to use real estate as a tool, not just a purchase.

That's why Jay put together a complete Houston VA Home Loan Guide.

In addition to traditional real estate services, he also works within the investment side of the business, where multiple strategies exist for generating income and acquiring property. This creates more flexibility for veterans who want to explore ownership beyond a single home and start thinking long term.

His approach is built around something simple.

Service does not stop when the uniform comes off.

It evolves.

That mindset has led him to stay active in the veteran community, attending events, hosting workshops, and connecting with organizations focused on supporting veterans in their transition. Through these efforts, he continues to build relationships and create opportunities for others navigating similar paths.

Now, as part of The Civvie’s growing Trusted Partner Network, Jay serves as a dedicated resource for veterans moving in, around or out of the Houston area, as well as those exploring real estate opportunities nationwide through his network.

Because for many veterans, the next mission starts with one key question.

Where do I build my life next?

And when the right guidance is in place, that decision becomes more than a move.

It becomes a foundation.

👉 If you are a veteran planning a move, buying your first home, or exploring real estate as a path to long-term wealth, connect with Jay.

🤝 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]

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