Yellowstone Trail of Minnesota

Aberdeen, SD to Conneaut, OH
Following sections of the Yellowstone Trail!
Thursday, July 29th

LINK is active beginning July 28 at: https://aprs.fi/…
follow the convoy and receive updates on its exact location!

The group is set to kick-off the convoy Wednesday, July 28 when it departs the Brown County fairgrounds in Aberdeen, South Dakota and will continue for three weeks until reaching its final destination of Connault, Ohio. On Thursday, July 29 the parade will begin making its way through Minnesota, with scheduled stops for breakfast, lunch and a snack in Appleton, Granite Falls and Olivia, respectfully.

The convoy will entail 42 military vehicles and around 75 members travelling roughly 120 to 160 miles per day at 30-35 mph. Vehicles range from WWII Jeeps to mighty 10 ton trucks used in the Gulf Wars.

Full Article:

The Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) will be bringing the ‘longest 4th of July parade in America’ through the communities of Renville County this coming Thursday, July 29. “People usually think we’re a FEMA relocation camp for the first few minutes,” laughed U.S. Army Veteran and MVPA member John Varner. “We’re excited about coming to Minnesota. We love stopping in small towns, meeting locals and obviously the local veterans.” Established in 1976, the non-profit MVPA is dedicated to military vehicle enthusiasts, historians, preservationists and collectors interested in the acquisition, restoration, preservation, safe operation and public education of historic military transport. The international organization administers a number of programs, publications, conventions and other events, including the upcoming 2021 MVPA Yellowstone Trail Convoy. According to Varner this will be the fifth military vehicle convoy held by the organization. He said the group chooses historic United States highways of significance to traverse as a route. This year the nod went to the Yellowstone Trail. “We have gone coast-to-coast on the Lincoln Highway twice and once on the southern the Bankhead Highway. We’ve also survived The Alaska Highway and rock’n rolled on Route 66 to California,” Varner said. “We try to keep to the original route as much as possible and enjoy meeting our fellow Americans in small towns all across America … Our mission is to honor Veterans of all eras and thank them for their service.” This year’s convoy won’t run coast-to-coast and will also divert from the Yellowstone Trail after hitting Stewart in order to by-pass the Twin Cities given recent social unrest. The group is set to kick-off the convoy Wednesday, July 28 when it departs the Brown County fairgrounds in Aberdeen, South Dakota and will continue for three weeks until reaching its final destination of Connault, Ohio. On Thursday, July 29 the parade will begin making its way through Minnesota, with scheduled stops for breakfast, lunch and a snack in Appleton, Granite Falls and Olivia, respectfully. The convoy will entail 42 military vehicles and around 75 members travelling roughly 120 to 160 miles per day at 30-35 mph. Vehicles range from WWII Jeeps to mighty 10 ton trucks used in the Gulf Wars. Convoy rest stops in communities serve as “static display” shows for community members. “We can hear the birds sing and kids laughing in their yards at 35 miles an hour,” said Varner. “It’s just at blast to meet and see America travelling at that speed.” The group is set to pass through Sacred Heart at about 1:45 p.m. before it’s approximately 30 minute scheduled stop at the Olivia American Legion around 2:30 p.m. There, Legion Commander Harry Hawkinson says the MVPA members and attendees will be will be welcomed the local veterans group and provided refreshments, including coffee and a snack. The Legion will open at 1 p.m. that day instead of its regularly scheduled weekday time of 4 p.m. “It’s nice to have them come even if it’s only for an hour or half hour,” said Hawkinson. “It’s their first time coming through Minnesota and we want to make them feel at home. We hope the community will help welcome them and come and enjoy an up close look at all the military vehicles. The Yellowstone Trail Alliance of Western Minnesota (YTAWMN) is also helping promote the event. The community is posting flyers as well as providing Yellowstone Trail and American flags for community participants to wave as the parade passes through. “We believe the Yellowstone Trail is the most interesting coast-to-coast highway in America, so it’s great to see them highlighting the road’s unique communities and heritage. We’re also especially proud to be promoting our celebrated veterans.” said YTAWMN President Becky Heerdt. Individuals can find out more about the MVPA at www.mvpa.org. They can also follow the convoy and receive updates on its exact location beginning July 28 at: https://aprs.fi/…