MVPA Convoy Blog

TMC'09 - Thanks to our Friends all along the Convoy route

2009-11-06T11:27:00.003-05:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It’s October and – can you believe it! – 4 months ago we were on day 3 of our Convoy. As you might imagine, I have spent these last 4 months catching up on those thing around the house that I have postponed for months. No, I am not done yet, but the list is getting shorter.

Speaking of lists, I believe that this email includes ~ 65 folks. That’s 65 of you and your teams that helped us. Here are the names of some of those folks. I apologize in advance for the persons that I have omitted including.

DC, MD and PA: Tim Clark, Lisa Byers, Louis Derose, Scott Lisha, John Giblin, Carl Mahnken, Yves-Marie Daly, Rick Leenstra, Don Rollette; Cpl John Spishock (PA SP)
OH: Don Shaffer, John Cheney II, John Cheney, Larry Lee, Bob Lichty, Don Elzer
IN: Bill Arick, Bev Gillespie, Monty Gillespie, Master Trooper Luke Nathalong (IN SP)
IL: Mike Kozak, Bill Campion, Craig McDonald, Chris Zielinski
IA: Tom Ulik, Dale Benskin, Bob Owens, Joe Goodlove, Bud Jaeger, Jeff LaFollette, Deb Rothmeyer, Lt. Greg McGivern, Sgt. Terry Kearney, Mary Jo Kinkaid, Heather Hilgendorf-Cooley,
NE: Rich Holley, Scott Lackey, Leslie Carter, Tricia Beem, Gary Gifford, Julie Jaber, Orla Kitt,
WY: Jim Haight, Shelly Horne, Pamela Jackson, Ruth Lauritzen,
UT: Mike Fernandez, Greg Brubaker, Jay Banta, Paula Nicholson, Jess Petersen
NV: Don Wallis, Eugene Phebus Jr., Zip Upham, Juan Cortes, Geno Oliver,
CA: Norm Root, Larry Pirack, Kurt Lessor, Jodi Franklin, Wallace Levin, Terry Selk, Wes Rhea, David Drake, Reed Whitaker, Martha Cohen, Karen McClaflin, Michael Kaelin.

Four months before we launched – February – we were holding regular conference calls to nail down all the details that we could think of in preparation of the Convoy coming to your city or state or region.

I want to take this opportunity to formally thank each and every one of you and your teams for your fantastic support and professionalism in helping our Convoy team across our great Country and receiving our Convoy every day for either (or both) lunch and dinner plus our overnight stop.

I hope that you have had the opportunity to check out some of the many videos and thousands of photos that are on line. It has been a humbling experience for us, the Convoy Participants to see the photos & videos of … all those people expressing their acts of patriotism to our Country… through their acts of kindness to us! It was simply amazing.

Here are some reflections from the Convoy that you helped in a BIG way become the success it was.

First and foremost: we did not travel to an event … this Convoy was the event.

• We drove 20 days, and rested 6 days. No one seemed to complain about those rest days. Remember the meals in FNAS and the environment @ Wooster!

• We covered 3,250 miles on the Convoy, per the 1919 mileage charts. I am sure our odometers all recorded something different.

• We traveled through 11 States plus the District of Columbia.

• We had a WW I MV on the road every day.

• We passed through or stopped at approximately 350 towns or cities or villages. That’s 350!!!!!

• We had the fabulous help of around 50 local teams for our meals and lodging and static shows at each of our stopping points & rest days.

• We parked our MVs along the curb of Constitution Avenue and left DC with a Police escort that most people only see on television.

• We crossed this great country in a 2 – 3 mile long column without reservation or restriction and in many places with Police escort.

• We had “line to line” Police escort in MD, PA and IN. A special thanks to these teams.

• We drove our Convoy carefully through a herd of cattle west of Austin NV, across an Army base in UT that very few people even know about and traveled along and over sections of the Pony Express Trails.

• We were encouraged and supported by far too many people to count! They included children and seniors, Police and Veterans, farmers and SPAM factory workers and … well, people like you and I. Our Veterans standing there (rain or shine) straight as an arrow and saluting us. Somebody shoulda’ told them … we were doing this for them. They had it all backwards.

• Who knows how many US flags we had waved for us. Some flags were large enough to cover a deuce-and-a-half!

• We consumed 2 dozen wooden clothes pins to combat vapour locks.

• We have countless photos and videos to our name – many of which we’ll never see.

• We met 2 people that remembered the original Convoy of 1919.

• We warmed the hearts of many of our Veterans, who warmed our hearts right back and caused more than one lump in our throats and tear in our eyes.

• We were escorted through a multitude of cities and towns by local & county and State Police departments. We even had U-DOT lead us from Murray to DPG. We had Volunteer FD trucks in western OH out to guide us. We even had a prisoner transfer Police car (with prisoner) escort in OH for a while! That’s a story on its own!

• We had almost all of our meals provided to us at little or no cost to us; not all – but most.

• We had dinner in Rochelle, IL while Generals MacArthur and Patton talked at us and Bob Hope entertained us.

• We consumed 4,956,234 bottles of water (an estimate) and some part of 20 cases of SPAM.

• We built a replica ¼ ton MBT from donated parts from our MVPA Vendor Community with painting & labour from the First Division Museum in Cantigny, IL. Thanks so much to Mike Fernandez who managed this project. We then towed this trailer from the First Division Museum to SF and then carried it to Evansville to be displayed during the Convention. The First Division Museum then bought the trailer from us and will place it on permanent display – until we need it again.

• We celebrated the 4th of July in a military town and had almost exclusive use of our Nation’s TOP GUN school grounds – Fallon NAS. Oh yeah, we also won 1st place for best parade entry in the July 4th Parade in Fallon!

• We traveled on 1.1 miles of the exact same road that the original 1919 TMC team drove over in CA. We each received an original LH brick from our friends in Gretna, NE.

• We finished up with a HUGE Police escort into and out of San Francisco and back to the Alameda NAS. Thanks to the MVCC for the lunch @ the Western Terminus of the LH.

• Our friends at the Alameda NAS & USS Hornet Museums hosted a great finale with a banquet, premier cot accommodations aboard the Hornet and wine & cheese with President Roosevelt aboard his “floating Whitehouse”, the USS Potomac.

With all this said, the MVPA and our “TMC’09 Core team” (it would seem we need a new name) are beginning early planning for our next Convoy in 2012. This next Convoy is a part of what is becoming a 10-year plan that will most likely include at least a Convoy celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 1919 Convoy.

As a part of closing the 2009 Transcontinental Motor Convoy project, we are preparing an “after action” report. Part of this AA report deals with objectively identifying project elements that we need to keep for future convoy projects, and those elements that could have gone better.

There is always room for improvement.

During the next weeks I will contact some of you to discuss the Convoy activities through your area. Our team will appreciate in advance your help here.

Again, thanks very much for your strong support of the TMC’09 project and the MVPA.

Included are a few photos. Their selection is random – because it is impossible for me to select a “best place” or “most memorable moment” (they began when Muriel and I left Clarkston, MI on 10 June and ended when we arrived back home on 13 July). I, personally, am indebted to you and your teams for your superb and professional actions during the planning and execution of this project. I look forward to working with you again in the future. The MVPA and the TMC’09 project team will not forget your support and service.

Please be so kind and pass this note on to your teams with our thanks.

Sincerely,

Terry A. Shelswell, P. Eng., MVPA 13957
Convoy Director, TMC’09 Project

In closing...

2009-07-30T13:34:00.001-04:00

Read the wrap up letter from Convoy Director Terry Shelswell. Click here

Back Home

2009-07-18T08:45:00.006-04:00

hey folks
I know I havn't posted in a week. After we got to the finish line we all kinda froze.
Time stood still for a few days, the recognizing of the fact "we had done it"
I talked to Terry yesterday, I asked him how he felt, empty he said.
I know how he feels, you run on pride and guts and finally adrenaline for 30 days and your mind and body kinda go limp. pics to send to
Terry will address how we did and other members will post how they felt.
If you have video or pics to send me, Don, please email mvpapress@yahoo.com, and i will give you snailmail address to send them to.
Been a gas.

out

don

Photos from San Francisco on G503 Forum

2009-07-14T23:24:00.003-04:00

Here's a link to a great posting on the G503 forum about the convoy's last leg -- into San Francisco. The post was done by Taigh Ramey, a convoy participant. The photos and trip details are great. Check it out.

http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=142838&start=30#p839245

Convoy Proclamation

2009-07-10T10:05:00.002-04:00

As promised, here is the Lincoln Highway Association proclamation presented to Terry Shelswell at the ceremonies at the Western Terminus in San Francisco yesterday. As I mentioned, I promised the convoy participants to get this posted on your web site so they could each download it and have a copy for themselves. It has been a pleasure beyond words to have a small role in this historic event.

Bob Dieterich
President
Lincoln Highway Association

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

tomorrow tomorrow i love ya tomorrow..kinda

2009-07-08T00:54:00.002-04:00

wow the last day is nigh
wanting to see my wife and that dam... cat, yes I miss Tyndl the cat even.
leaving this family here will be hard, we have become a cohesive unit
of friends.
one falls back others stop to help and negotiate the map to get back with the main unit.
one falls to the wayside we miss a brother in arms.
there is a speech from Henry 5 Shakespeare
"we few,we happy few, we band of brothers, for those who shared the road with me is truly my brother" forgive me william.
there will be more posts as members gather their thoughts and will post those as i get them.
tomorrow is a day we thought was so far away,in Iowa,in Ohio,in Wyoming and now tomorrow is here....sigh

out here

don

California we have arrived!!!!!!!

2009-07-06T23:38:00.002-04:00

wow, California has arrived.
We are spending the night in Placerville. Some bodacious country side. Mountains high and scenic.
Lake tahoe was incredible. I'll get some pics up tomorrow. Our intrepid blogger was stung by something in the desert of Nevada.
Eye swole up like a watermellon. Really sick. I was getting a little shocky cold sweats , confusion, vision blury, et el. really would like to thank the ER folk in Fallon, tip o the hat folk.
We got a little spread out coming down from Tahoe, but with great aplomb we found each other, great ledearship from chris and boots, thanks one more time.
I'm feeling better but not good yet. I'm sure it will pass by tomorrow.

out here

don

Convoy Photos & Article Sent to MVPA HQ

2009-07-05T16:54:00.004-04:00

Thanks to Joel Craig for sending us this link to photos he took as the convoy rolled through Plainfield, Illinois. http://gallery.me.com/joelcraig23/100259

Thanks to Loren Swanson of Gretna, Nebraska for sending us these links to panorama photos taken during the convoy's stop in Gretna. To get the full effect of each photo you need to use the tool bar on the photo to zoom in and around the photos. Each was taken with many individual photos that are stitched together with software allowing for greater detail as you zoom into the photo.

http://gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=26711
http://gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=26777
http://gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=26925

Loren also sent this link to some more traditional photos on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/nebugeater/sets/72157620569257532/

Thanks to Carol Popernack for participating in the convoy and sending us this article she wrote about the experience. http://www.popernack.com/library/library.php?aID=10&xID=6

Chillin in Fallon

2009-07-05T10:22:00.002-04:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a couple of days.
The trip from Wyoming to Nevada was a bit difficult. Going into Ely on Thursday was a killer. 150 miles on dirt roads, well dirt for 120 miles and then mud for the rest. 30 miles of rainy asphalt finished to ride.
We were tired and hungry, we rolled into Ely around 9:00 PM and the legion post had a spaghetti
dinner waiting and ready. Thanks ladies and gents.
The next day was our longest ride of the trip from Ely to Fallon.All hard surface but hot and long
260 miles I think. Much needed rest days. Trip has taken it's toll on all of us. Even our intrepid writer has some kind of infection on his face right under my camera eye. Not
good.
California here we come. It's going to be hard to say goodbye to there fine men and women.

out here

don

New coverage from Nebraska

2009-07-02T09:17:00.002-04:00

As the Convoy rolled through Nebraska, the local news in Gretna turned out to cover the event. Click here.

Convoy video

2009-07-01T10:25:00.001-04:00

All kinds of people have been posting video of the Convoy as it has traveled across the US. CLICK HERE to see video from various contributors.

Ian Wallace accident

2009-07-01T08:59:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately, I have some bad news to inform everyone with.

Terry Shelswell called my home this morning and had my wife Pam relay some information to me and then onto President Welch and the rest of the board and HQ. This is the best information that we have right now and I believe it is fairly accurate, but I could have minor details incorrect.

The convoy had a full day of rest yesterday at Rollins Wyoming. Around 6:30pm, Ian Wallace was involved in an accident with his motorcycle and another car. After leaving a restaurant, Ian was travelling through an intersection and a car struck him from the left. Ian was knocked to the ground and suffered a compound fracture of left tibia and fibula. He was transported to the local hospital in Rollins and then onto the Wyoming Medical Center in Casper. His wife Linda has been informed of the accident; is in contact with him and is currently working on the transportation details.

I spoke with Ian this afternoon and he is doing fine. I understand that the hospital preformed some surgery last night to stabilize the leg. Other than the leg, he only received minor scratches. Ian told me that his leg has been put into a stainless steel frame to immobilize it. The doctor told him that although the break was bad, all of the damage is repairable. After a few more days of observation and stabilization, Ian can then have surgery to repair the leg. This surgery can be done there or at home. Ian has decided to return home and have the procedure done in Columbus, Ohio. He is not sure when he will be ready to travel, but maybe in a few days. They will transport him by airplane.

We are not sure who was at fault yet. I understand from Ian that the sun was in his eyes as he went through the intersection, so he was travelling slowly, around 15MPH. He caught a glimpse of the car out of the corner of his eye, but it was too late. He thought that the car was travelling a fairly slow speed as well. A second sooner or later, Ian felt that he would have just tipped the bike and got up and left. But the cars bumper was right on the mark. I guess one of the 5 ton trucks was very close by and in Ian’s words ‘people from the convoy came out of the woodwork and were there helping’.

Besides the leg injury, Ian is disappointed that he can’t finish the convoy. He even joked that at least he did this on a rest day, so it didn’t affect the schedule. Ian said ‘Hi’ to everyone and that he will recover.

The convoy members have secured his bike on a trailer and will be taking care of its return. I understand that Ian had already worked out return transportation for the bike with Pat Underwood, so that detail is taken care of.

Thanks, will report more info when it comes available.

John Cheney

1 post script

2009-06-30T23:25:00.004-04:00

one; Every time we stop for a meal all meals are measured by the one we had in East Palestine Ohio. Meaning no offense to any of our hosts it just they put on such a spread, it was like every house in town brought their favorite dish. It truly was a community event. There must have been 50 different main dishes, there desert table took 3, 8 foot tables to hold it all, every kind of pie, apple, cherry, rhubarb. Now i may be just a little biased here, being that i call East Palestine home, but I hear it every day, the convoy remembers and they remember East Palestine with fond tummys.

out here

don

Rawlins to Green River

2009-06-30T22:09:00.002-04:00

Good news and bad. Ian our intrepid motorcycle rider was hit by a car in Rawlins while on patrol as it were. He survived with severely broken leg, they have transferred him to Casper Hospital. They have bone specialist there. We will miss him but i think he would want us to press on, he is with us in spirit if not in body. Get well soon my friend.
Our hosts in Rawlins included,The Hampton Inn, Chamber of Commerce, Wyoming Tourism,and Main Street. Good vittles and great interaction with police and local activities,tip of the hat.
In Rock Springs, Homewood Suites, American Legion post 24 and the Legion Riders, gave us quite an entry to the towns as escorted by Legion Riders.
I would also like to give huge thanks for Sweet Water County Sheriff's Office, Carbon County Sheriff's, Rawlin's Police, and the Wyoming Highway Patrol for escorting us and keeping the blue meanies away as we traveled across this beautiful state.
Welp gotta try to upload some pics tonight.

out here

don

Monday in Wyoming

2009-06-29T23:19:00.002-04:00

Man it felt so good to wake up to a rocky mountain morning.
Fresh cool air makes you glad to be alive. Several of our group went to territorial prison museum, personally i was afraid they might keep a couple.
Dinner last night and breakfast today provided by local civic groups whom i will detail tomorrow.
City of Rawlins Wyoming blocked street by railroad station for us to set up and they set up grill and pay as you go bar and dinner.
For some sadistic reason Terry forced me up another ladder truck, Annie know that the last thing i say to Terry is"Tell my wife I love her".
Well enough of my whining.
laundry done even though i got John's and he got mine, we worked it out, darn those brits wear funny socks. On towards California...gots to make it if it kills me.

Out here

Don

Convoy Videos on You Tube

2009-06-28T09:48:00.005-04:00

sat 27 june

2009-06-27T22:23:00.002-04:00

Cheyenne Wyoming
sun goes down later here it seems, maybe i'm still on east coast time.
altitude has not struck yet but it will, dryer here but that can be fooling, you still sweat it just evaporates quickly so you don't think about needing water. Boots rides us about that so you won't forget if boots is talking you by golly will listen.Impressive man there.
Lots of miles today.Lunch in Kimball Nebraska tasty and provided by the Main Street Market and VFW along with Auxiliary #2243. Thanks folk that was great.
Early and long day tomorrow.
Will post tomorrow and post some new pics tonight

out here

don

yesterdays finish

2009-06-27T21:18:00.002-04:00

sorry about this taking so long.
some days are long before i get to the hotel.
anyway..yesterday morning breakfast served most graciously by American Legion Post 216.
Again thanks folks, real nice welcome and goodbye.
Stopped by the University of Nebraska Kearny Center for a morning stretch and unwind, Those have become the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Had lunch in Lexington Neb at the Heartland Military Museum. Good food but i thought i would never see the gang give up food for "things" but you should have seen some of those things, trucks, jeep or two, a duck or two.
And for the kicker in Ogalala the Elks Lodge put on the feed bag and boogie. Dixie Land
Band and grilled burgers and brats. Man what a day.

Blog Posting will come later

2009-06-27T06:49:00.001-04:00

sorry folk
up half the night, now 4:30 am trying to catch up. Left my notes as to who and where in someones car, i know lame excuse but it's all i got and i'm sticking to it.
will blog later today i promas

out here

don

Video from Iowa

2009-06-26T10:28:00.004-04:00

Rick Woten has sent us this video as the Convoy traveled through Ames, Iowa. Thanks Rick!

Good day but tireing

2009-06-25T22:25:00.002-04:00

Evening folk
Had a great breakfast fromAmerican Legion Post 216.
They hosted us and fed us 4 times,made us feel right at home.
In the great town of Gretna the Air force Heartland Band gave us a taste of 40's misic.
Terry ORDERED me (he's such a beast) to get in a bucket and go up 75 feet to get incredible footage of the group from on high.
Lunch today was provided in an wonderful town park in Schuyler. The building had been built in the 30's as a WPA project.
To close the days travels we ended up in Grand Island Nebraska tired and hot the volunteers at the Veterans Home of Grand Island had dinner waiting and it fit to a tee. Cold ham and cheese. Hit the spot.
Uploading some pics tonight. We will begin to have guest bloggers soon.

out here

don

Photos from Illinois

2009-06-25T14:08:00.001-04:00

Joel Craig has posted a gallery of photos of the Convoy's trek through Plainfield, IL. Enjoy!

http://gallery.me.com/joelcraig23/100259

We made it half way

2009-06-24T08:00:00.002-04:00

yea us
We are now officially half way through the trip, mileage wise.
1500 miles and counting.
Wild weather yesterday. had to hold up the convoy Iowa, hail, and rain and wind, thought tornado was about to strike but no. Just a wet and scary scenario. Few breakdowns my self in chase car had flat tire and break lock up on trailor. I guess good for me as an observer, no fun for sure.Thanks to the selfless help from member of Lincoln Highway Association we got back with convoy in Omaha.
Nice spaghetti dinner with America Legion Post 216. Good eats guys. Well even us press guys need to do laundry.
Out for now but will post again later today.

out here

don

AH Iowa

2009-06-21T22:31:00.004-04:00

Hello how are ya I hope your doing fine...
(think bugs bunny dancing across a stage) or not.
Sorry about last night. Major tired and general disorder came for a visit.
Anyway, we have arrived in Iowa. Bucolic comes to mind. Green fields, happy folk, they seem anyway, could be full of axe murderers. But I don't think so, good hearty warm people.
Every day we are shown just what the people of America are made of. Flag waving, toe haired kids and the grandmothers that you can only dream of. I can almost smell the apple pies cooking as we go by. No seriously, this great nation is made up of the good people of the prairie, home spun optimists. All they need is a little good news, the kinda thing we help provide . Mix in a little remembering when you could tell who the bad guys were, a touch of everybody being in the big one together, a smidgen of self sacrifice and self reliance. Damn good recipe for a small town America.

good night

out here

don

South Bend

2009-06-19T18:25:00.002-04:00

Busy day today.
Had to parade in town. Surprising number of folk showed up considering how freaking hard it rained. Man i'm telling you. We were under tornado watches and warnings. Wind and rain.
Shorted my camera, hoping it is not a major issue.Looks like my main battery is dying or dead. Have ordered new battery to pick up as we go along. Went to the military museum here in South Bend, located at the airport. Great facility and 1 nice lunch.
Several of our members went to the Studebaker museum and saw some great exhibits.
Tonight there is a shin dig at local bar but we have a 1st gear call at 6:30 so i don't think folk will stay out late. put up some new pics, bunches.
Had a complaint that i didn't have enough jeep pics, so i fixed that.

Been busy.

out here

don