Wed., July 1, 2009
|
|
|
Wed., July 1, 2009 |
 |
Main
Story
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Photo by Mike Fischer About 35 Jeeps, trucks, ambulances and other military vehicles from World War I through current issue were on display at Gretna Middle School as the Trans-continental convoy stopped over in Gretna for a day of rest last week. Convoy visits Gretna,continues to CaliforniaBy Mike Fischer Editor The trans-continental convoy, which stopped in Gretna last week, drew hundreds to view the roughly 35 vehicles that made their way across the heartland. The convoy began its trip on June 13 in Washington D.C. when it kicked off its 3,137-mile trip following the Lincoln Highway, and celebrating the 90th anniversary of the first, and only, convoy to make the same trip. In 1919, a convoy traveled the Lincoln Highway to celebrate the country's first trans-continental highway. Gretna was one of five cities on the 28-day trip that the convoy would spend a day resting in. The convoy took two days to travel across Iowa and head into Nebraska. While traveling through Iowa, a blown engine was replaced in 12 hours so that the convoy could continue without delay. The convoy found a local collector who happened to have a spare engine to use in that vehicle. The convoy had a hiccup coming into Nebraska, not arriving until after 6 p.m., a couple hours later than expected. A severe storm and heavy rain near Woodbine and Missouri Valley, Iowa delayed the convoy. Once in Nebraska, the convoy traveled down Interstate 680 onto Dodge Street and then took Highway 6/31 into Gretna. The convoy was scheduled to use a short, two-mile stretch of the Old Lincoln Highway in Elkhorn, but many of the vehicles exceeded the weight limits, so the convoy was unable to use that stretch of the highway, but traveled very near the highway on Dodge Street. Tuesday evening the Gretna American Legion, Post 216, provided dinner for the convoy. Many people stopped at the Gretna Middle School parking lot to visit the vehicles that evening. "The city did a great job hosting," said Duane Clausen of the Valley American Legion Post 58. Clausen said he spoke with a number of members of the Convoy who said the community, Legion and city took great care of those visiting. They explained that in other communities, they had to pay for much of their food and other items, but in Gretna this was provided to them. Wednesday, the convoy was on display to the public, and hundreds came to view the trucks, jeeps, ambulances, humvees, planes and many other vehicles on display. Owners and travelers were around all day answering questions about their vehicles and travels. Some members are part of the convoy on its entire travel from Washington D.C. to San Francisco, while others will simply make a couple hundred mile travel with the convoy. Part of the celebration Wednesday was two flyovers from vintage World War II fighter planes, which were arranged by Duane Clausen. The first flyover was a P-51 Mustang which came over Gretna at 7 p.m. The P-51 Mustang was an instrumental part of shortening the war in Europe because they were able to escort bombers into Germany. Clausen explained these planes are a rare commodity, but with two in the area, one in the Council Bluffs, and the other, which flew over Gretna, owned by Harry Bar in Lincoln, it was a must for the display. The second flyover came at 7:30 p.m., and was two planes based in Millard. These planes, called "Swifts" are a classic style, and resemble the P-51 Mustang, Clausen said. The two swifts flew in formation over Gretna. Clausen felt these planes and flyovers were fitting for the convoy, celebrating the men who fought and died in past wars Thursday morning, the convoy departed Gretna heading back west down the Old Lincoln Highway, retracing the path of the 1919 convoy. As the convoy traveled west, a drive shaft of one jeep broke, but since the Jeeps are all 4-wheel-drive, the driver used the front wheels to power the vehicle to Ogallala, where the replacement part was flown in, and the Jeep was fixed. While there have been a few breakdowns, the major problem has simply been keeping the vehicles cool: over-heating is a major problem, as isิ vapor lock, but the owners are keeping the convoy running as they make their way across the country. More vehicles are expected to join the convoy as it moves closer to its destination of San Francisco. The stop in Gretna marked day 12 of 28 for the convoy. On July 8, the convoy will arrive in San Francisco, and on July 10 it will disband from San Francisco and the owners will return home. |
||||
|
Contact Us! gretnaguide@gretnaguide.com PO Box 240•
Gretna, NE 68028 |
