The Northwest Parks Convoy

“Mark will do it.” That remark wormed its way through the fog of my mind as I was contemplating my Dodge WC-56 command car’s maintenance needs of my. Yes, “contemplating.” I was not day dreaming Terry Shelswell (the Military Vehicle Preservation Association’s Convoys Coordinator) was speaking at a convoy planning meeting at the 2014 Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

A GOOD IDEA

We had been discussing potential future convoys and coordinating them with Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) conventions. We also discussed potential two-week convoys in the “off ” years between the four-week transcontinental convoys. A convoy through National Parks in the west was on the table for consideration.

The National Park Service was established in 1916 to manage national parks, monuments, and other historical properties. In 1924, the young organization embarked on a campaign to publicize the western National Parks to encourage visitation. As part of that effort, they designated a 6,350-mile highway loop that encompassed all of the Parks in the 11 western states. The route was called the “The National Park-to-Park Highway.” Those in our convoy planning meeting thought that this could serve as a template for future convoys.

Random ideas followed: At that time, the Military