'Murph' workouts, roller skating, unlimited pizza: Celebrate Memorial Day in Onslow at these events
With Memorial Day around the corner, many Onslow residents are planning their itineraries for the three-day weekend.
Memorial Day, which used to be called Decoration Day, is a federal holiday honoring all those who have died in U.S. wars. As the holiday is on a Monday, May 30 this year, the occasion warrants a long weekend.
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Living in a military town makes this holiday even more special for residents of the area. Here's a list of Onslow-area events to add to your Memorial Day weekend plan.
Memorial Day Murph
The Memorial Day Murph is an extreme workout event in honor of Lieutenant Michael Murphy, a Navy Seal who passed away in the line of duty.
The Memorial Day Murph will take place on Saturday, May 28 at Onslow Fitness, located at 1140 Henderson Drive. The event will begin at 9 a.m.
"His story's really awesome," said Onslow Fitness Membership Service's Sara Leake. "He, I think they were in Afghanistan, and he separated from his team in order to get a call from headquarters. He moved away from the protective rocks because he had to get service, and he was fighting off a bunch of people and ended up getting that last call in to call and help for the rest of his team, but he passed away."
Leake said the workout will entail a one-mile run, which will be run together with the Murph flag, 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 squats, and another one-mile run as fast as you can. She added that many people like to wear vests and/or breast packs.
Leake said the event is open to the public, and Onslow Fitness is the official host. They'll even be reading the letter Murphy sent to his parents.
For more information, visit themurphchallenge.com, Onslow Fitness's Facebook page, or call 910-455-7274.
Memorial Day observance
Jacksonville government will hold its annual Memorial Day Observance on Memorial Day at the Lejeune Memorial Gardens.
According to Jacksonville Government's Facebook event, while the event is traditionally held at the Carolina Veterans Cemetery, this year's observance will be held at the future site of the Carolina Museum of the Marine at 100 Montford Landing Road.
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"This somber observance honors all those veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice," the event states.
The event will be hosted by the Military Order of the Purple Heart Beirut Memorial Chapter #642, and will be open to the public, as well as streamed on G10TV.
For more information, call the City of Jacksonville at 910-938-5200.
Memorial Day skate
If the Memorial Day Murph is too extreme a workout, Roller City of Jacksonville, located at 120 Bridget Lane, will be holding a Memorial Day Skate on the holiday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission into the rink is $12, and skate rental is $3. Roller City said unlimited pizza will be included with all paid admissions.
For more information, visit rollercityjax.com, Roller City's Facebook page, or call 910-968-0962.
Memorial Day Battle of the Heroes
Fit4Life Richlands, located at 9009 Richlands Highway, is holding a free community event, where police, fire, and military personnel will battle it out to see who comes out on top.
The event will take place on Memorial Day from 9-11 a.m., and will include vendors, food, raffles, and more. Fit4Life is asking for vendors and participants for the event.
For more information, visit Fit4Life Richlands' Facebook page, or call 910-324-4301.
"Never Forgotten" Memorial Day 5K
Looking for something more intense than roller skating, but not as extreme as The Murph?
Transition Together will be holding a Memorial Day 5K to "honor this nation's heroes" at 300 Taylor Notion Road in Swansboro on Saturday, May 28 from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The event will include a one mile fun run, and registration will be allowed up until 7:45 a.m. on race day. Transition Together's website added that family fun activities will be on site.
The event is $30 per person, and T-shirts and awards will be presented. Award classes are under 18, 18-34, 35-49, and Masters (male and female).
For more information, visit Transition Together's website.
Rolling Thunder XXXIV Nationwide Ride For Freedom
Rolling Thunder Inc. N.C. Chapters is holding a Ride for Freedom on Sunday, May 29 at the American Legion Post 265 located at 146 Broadhurst Road in Jacksonville.
Rolling Thunder NC State Liaison Paul G. Levesque said the event previously took place in Washington, DC for 32 years, but is now nationwide. The NC events will be held in Jacksonville this year.
The event will begin on Friday, May 27, from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a candlelight vigil at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lejeune Memorial Gardens. Rolling Thunder NC members and the public are welcome.
On Saturday, May 28, the opening ceremony will begin at 10 a.m., with the presentation of colors, table ceremony, and speakers. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., there will be food trucks, vendors and music, and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will be an individual ride. Riders can check in at 9 a.m.
From 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the day of the event, registration will take place. There will be no ride fee, but cash donations are accepted. A religious service will take place at 10 a.m.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be food trucks, vendors, and music available. The law enforcement escorted ride will take place at 12 p.m. through Onslow County. Also, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., there will be a speakers program, tributes, and the closing ceremony.
Reporter Morgan Starling can be reached at mstarling@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on The Daily News: Onslow residents can celebrate Memorial Day at these area events
