Historic Military Convoy Travels Through Hartwell, Royston

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Hartwell

A historic convoy makes it way into Georgia Thursday.

Hundreds of well wishers in Hartwell and later in Royston, lined the streets and roadways to welcome about 70 historic vintage military vehicles as they crossed into Georgia Thursday morning on the sixth day leg of their trek across country.

Sponsored by the Military Vehicle Preservation Association, the Convoy consists of military vehicles of all sizes and descriptions from World Wars 1 and 2.

The trip across country is following the original route a military convoy took in 1920 known as the Bankhead Highway.

In Hartwell, the convoy stopped for a morning break at Bell’s Plaza where the local American Legion Post 109 treated members to free coffee and donuts.

MVPA Convoy Projects Leader Terry Shelswell said all of the vehicles are privately owned.

“These vehicles are all privately owned and maintained,” he said. “This is an international group that has a mission of saving and restoring military vehicles. This is an opportunity to educate the public on the importance of these vehicles wen they were in service with our veterans and to say ‘thank you’ to our military and service personnel.”

The convoy left Washington DC last Saturday and Shelswell says they can only travel about 200 miles per day.

“Somewhere between 150 and a high number is about 200,” he said. “Right now, we’re traveling about 35 miles an hour.”

Among the local well-wishers on hand in Hartwell was State Representative Alan Powell. Powell welcomed the convoy and praised their ability to stir local patriotism.

“As we came in from South Carolina this morning, I said to myself I don’t believe I’ve seen this kind of outpouring of citizens to come out and salute these people and to wave the flag even more than they do at the Christmas parade,” Powell said. “I want to thank this convoy for the job that they’re doing and all of the people who have come out to honor not only them but the veterans who have so faithfully served this country.”

Powell also thanked State and local law enforcement who provided the convoy with a safety escort through Hartwell, Hart County, Royston, and Franklin County.

Also on hand was a representative from U.S. Representative Doug Collins’ office who presented Shelswell with an American Flag to take with them on their journey. Shelswell said receiving the flag was an honor.

The convoy will travel through nearly every state in the South as well as Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and finally to San Diego in Southern California.

You can follow the convoy’s progress online at www.convoyontheair.org.