Long ago near the start of the 20th century, in a time when horse-drawn travel was on its way out, while the car was yet to triumph, groups of businessmen put their heads together in a privately-funded transcontinental enterprise known to history as “The Yellowstone Trail.”

Passing through central Wisconsin in its bold endeavor to stretch from Plymouth Rock in the East to Puget Sound in the West, this privately funded venture was in part the beginning of modern travel. Now coming the other way to Stanley from Aberdeen, South Dakota and on toward Ohio will be the National Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) with a historic military convoy, arriving at Soo Park around Noon and staying for lunch this Saturday July 31. The public is invited out to the event. Local veteran Bruce Wozniak shared his thoughts recently on the convoy and what it means to him.

“I was a Convoy commander and partic-

See COMING CONVOY, Page 2

…to Highway X near Boyd…

…then through Thorp to Abbotford

…to Stanley's First Avenue…

From Cadott and your Friendly Neighbor…

FROM PAGE 1 ipated in over 100 missions rolling the roads of Iraq,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the collection of military vehicles the Convoy brings to the streets of my hometown of Stanley on the Yellowstone Trail.” Wozniak is Commander of Stanley Legion Post 112.

Saturday July 31st about Noon, 90 members and support from the MVPA will convoy into Stanley with historic trucks. The Convoy is deemed the “Longest 4th of July Parade” The convoy is made up of privately- owned military vehicles that range in eras from WWII up to the Iraq War.

Wozniak will be doing military/ camo face painting with the kids and has a variety of military gear for them to try on for a photo opportunity. “I thought it would be fun and educational for the kids to experience military life,” he said. In addition, members of the Legion have been busy marking the route into and around town for the event, with the Yellowstone Trail coming from Boyd on Highway X.

“We have lined the Yellowstone Trail Road with lots of yellow bows for the public to see the convoy route as they arrive into Stanley about Noon,” said Marthamae Kottschade, Event/Promotions coordinator assisting the Stanley Legion/ VFW as they host the event.

“We want to give the Convoy a big grand entrance as they stop for lunch in Stanley. The Convoy is celebrating the Historic Yellowstone Trail National Highway (YTH) route that was created in the late 1900’s and in use until the end of World War II. The entire route runs from Boston, MA to Portland. OR and of course the Yellowstone National Park for which it was named,” she said.

From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., the public is invited to join local Veteran’s/Military in the Stanley Veteran’s Memorial Park at 101 S. Broadway in downtown Stanley.

“Grab your flag, wear your Red, White and Blue and let’s show our Military/Veteran’s we support and Thank them”. said Kottschade, who is a Mom of two Marines.

“In conjunction with the Convoy we wanted to make it an entire community /family friendly event. Law Enforcement, Fire, Rescue, Semis, Tow trucks, dump trucks, etc. are invited to the “Touch a Truck & More Event,” explained Kottschade. “Basically anything that kids can see up close).” Wozniak added an additional comment.

“We thought the community could already be at the Veteran’s Memorial Park awaiting the big arrival of the Convoy as they roll into downtown Stanley,” he said.

If you don’t see them, you should be able to hear them. If not, you will hear the patriotic music playing. Stanley has an outdoor speaker system that will add to the atmosphere of this event.

The street adjacent to the Veteran’s Memorial Park on East First Avenue will be closed off at 10:30 a.m. for the “Touch a Truck event” and then when the Convoy rolls into town they will park along the curb on the south side of that street.

“This is a historic event that will probably never happen again in my lifetime, I hope many will come to see this and take it in,” said Wozniak.

Food/Beverages will be available in the park pavilion provided by Hansen’s IGA.

Come and see the military and other vehicles up close!

Bruce Wozniak (left) and Marthamae Kottschade appeared before the Stanley Common Council July 19 , being approved for a permit to host the Historic Military Convoy on First Avenue this July 31.