A picnic lunch was served at the War Eagle Mill. Photos were taken of all 37 vehicles as they crossed over the picturesque bridge on the final leg of the trip back to Fayetteville.

Military vehicles were on display on the Huntsville town square. The antique stores, coffee shop and botiques were popular shopping places. Kevin Chartan and Ev Harless found a way to the top of the Antique shop to take some birds eye photos.

The first stop for the Red Ball Convoy was at the Round Mountain Community Church. They provided us with refreshments and a rest stop.

The second stop was at a road side park with a scenic river that flowed from under the rocks. This was a time to relax and visit.

The hundred mile convoy "Red Ballin' Thru the Ozarks" began and ended at the Clarion Inn. 37 vehicles and around 85 participants gathered for the event, organized by Jerome & Marsha Casey, with help from Lewis & Molly Anderson and Dan Sharon. Vehicles were trailered from as far away as Baytown, TX (approximately 600 miles) and one participant from GA.

We visited the Veteran's Home in Fayetteville. Vehicles were displayed in front of the building and veteran's came out to visit and view the military vehicles.

We met at the home of Sedric & Phyllis Wirt to unload our vehicles and form a convoy to the Sherwood Christmas parade. Phyllis served a BBQ luncheon. Their friends Wayne & Stacey Majors; Joe Allison, Gus Jones and his grandson; Paul & Ev Harless; Bob, Gloria and Floyd Blakeney; David, Lenna, Nick & Tom Hopkins; the Wirts great nephew, niece and 2 children all participated. Hunter Douglas and a friend met us at the parade line up with their Mut & Deuce. Seven jeeps and a deuce and half followed the color guard, with a number of veterans and the ex-mayor Harmon as passengers. Robert Woods drove his dad's little green MG at the end of the parade. The crowds were large and the children enjoyed candy provided by the VFW.

In Spite of the cold, windy weather the "Rock Crawlers" came in good numbers to participate in the Veteran's Appreciation and Wounded Warrier Weekend at the Superlift ORV Park in Hot Springs. On Saturday the AR MVPA had 3 vehicles on display. David and Tom Hopkins were the first to arrive with their MB. David & Tom left to get gas and Rich & Wendy Kitkoski came with their M38 - not seeing any AR MVPA members there and with the wind blowing cold they decided to leave. Paul & Ev Harless and Mark Simmons & friend arived shortly after 9:30 with their M38s. We visited around the fire built in an endcap from the pipeline. Tom got to drive his dad's MB. At noon Hotdogs and hamburgers were served from the "Crawler" grill. We cooled our insides with icecream. David & Tom stayed to ride on the trails. It was a nice event but a very cold and windy day!

This was the 9th Annual Pope County Veterans Day parade and "Salute to Freedom Ceremony". AR MVPA provided 2 M38s for the parade. Paul Harless's passengers were: Grand Marshall Maynard Gordon and Mrs. Leonard; Tim Smith's passengers were a Korean War veteran and his wife and Ev Harless. The ceremony included recognition of the sponsors; a history of Veteran's Day; music by the Tech College Band; the National Anthem; and the Pledge of Allegiance. Special Recognition was given to the Korean War Veterans as veterans of all other wars lined the walkway to extend a handshake honoring each Korean War veteran. All veterans participating were given a Korean War challenge coin. The ceremony ended withy a 21 gun salute and Taps. This ceremony was a heartfelt, impressive honoring of Veterans who have given so much for our country.

Veteran Appreciation Day was coordinated by Roy McClure, Melanie Garett and Billy Sanders. It featured displays by the VFW Post 4453 of Morrilton; the Kurtz family war memorabilia; the Plumerville Ass. of Conway County Veterans and the Salute to Oppelo Veterans. The parade, with Brigadier General Charles D. Martin as Parade Marshall, traveled through downtown Plumerville. AR MVPA participation included: Sedric & Phyllis Wirt, Joe & Rita Allison; Floyd, Bob & Gloria Blakeney, Joe Tyler, David Vaught; Clayton & Linda Jones; Pete Rossi and Ev Harless with 6 military vehicles in the parade. The Boy Scouts presented colors as the Cub Scouts looked on. The afternoon program included speeches by B. Gen. Martin, Conway County Judge Hart, Mayor Paladino and a music program. Outside vendors and food vendors were set up. This album is under constructionand more photos will be added.

Petit Jean Mountain is home to the annual AR MVPA Military Vehicles Rally. The beauty of the mountain draws visitors from all over the world. It is the first Arkansas state park. There are many trails to hike, views to admire and activities to attend. Mather Lodge and Winrock Center provides lodging and restaurants. The Museum of Autos is host the the Petit Jean Rally and the antique auto swap meet each fall. The AR MVPA takes a trail ride on Red Bluff Drive where vehicles are photographed at the scenic overlook.

This album features pictures of vehicles, trailers and artillery. Winning vehicles and display are posted at the beginning of the album. If you can help out with titles for the pictures posted with ??? please add them to the comment section below the picture. (or email me with the title) Thanks, Ev

This volume contains pictures of the trail rides on Friday & Saturday, as well as pictures of people with the vehicles. If you see mistakes in the titles please make a note of correction in the comments section below the picture. Thanks, Ev

This album includes activities on the rally grounds from Set up to Take Down: building up the quonset hut and tents; decorating; displays; chow time; birthday party for Junior members; the new hat competition; military vendors; the awards meeting etc. Due to circumstances beyond our control the Friday evening program had to be cancelled. If you find pictures untitled or wrongly titled, mis-spelled names etc., please make corrections in the "Comments" section below the picture. Thanks, Ev

The AR "MV" Travelers felt right at home with the Perry County Fair Parade theme "Traveling Arkansas". The Perry County Sherif was this years Parade Chairman and led the parade, followed by Paul & Ev Harless, in their M37, as the Color Guard. David, Tom and Nick were next in line in their MB followed by Bob & Gloria Blakeney in their GPW. This year's parade had some very nice floats; fire engines; corvetts; a Thunderbird Convertible; firetrucks; motorcycles; 4 wheelers; tractors; horses; fair queens, princesses and babies; cheerleaders, football teams, and the band. (I probably left something out) Below are the photos from the parade. If you can identify people or information write it below the picture in the comment section.

The Old Soldier's Parade in Heber Springs had two military vehicles this year. Bob & Gloria Blakeney's GPW and Floyd Blakeney's M151. Six members attended: C. Bruce Lynch, Bob & Gloria Blakeney; Floyd Blakeney and Bruce and Helen Robus. Photos are by C. Bruce Lynch

AR MVPA military vehicle display at the "Fabulous Fourth" in Cherokee Park (Morrilton). Three vehicles were on display: Paul Harlesses GPW; Joe Allison's M151 and Floye Blakeney's M151. All left early with the threat of rain. Bob and Floyd Blakeney ran into the storm on their way home to Perryville. Joe arrived home in Centerville before the rain started. Paul & Ev trailered their vehicle.

The Mayflower Elementary School set up a special Patriotic Day on the Friday before Memorial Day to give students some hands on knowledge about our armed services. Many of the classes designed their own special tees to represent different branches of the service. A wide variety of activities were planned to let the students participate in related activities. The AR MVPA was invited to bring a couple of military vehicles. Each group that came to our station listened to a presentation about the jeeps, were photographed and allowed to get in the jeeps. Approximately 400 students gained a little historic information about the military vehicles and their restorations.

This album includes pictures taken on Saturday and Sunday morning. Rick, Vicki, Katie, Jamesand Andrea Libby (WWII Display - GPW); Molly Anderson (Deuce and Half) and Lewis Anderson (WC 55) Saturday was a full day of airshow with the Toro Toro, Toro reenactment of the bombing of Pearl Harbor; the Golden Eagle Paratrooper jumps; a variety of small aircraft shows, the jet propelled truck (recorded in the Guiness Book of Records) as well as the airplane displays, vendor booths and National Guard displays. There were booths set up for entertainment of the kids, water stations and the hospitality booth (which fed us quite well) for the participants. Sunday included a repeat of the Saturday activities. Lisa Fox and Ev Harless had the opportunity to meet the reenactors of Tora, Tora, Tora and to climb into the little Japanese Zero planes. The hot air balloons flew back to Ft. Smith on Saturday morning.

The Ft. Smith Air Show was a three day event. This volume includes set up photos taken on Friday and some of the events of that day. The closing for Friday was a night show by the Golden Eagle Paratroopers, the illumination of the hot air balloons, the world record jet propelled truck and ended with fireworks. Friday Joe & Rita Allison (MB), Paul & Ev Harless (GPW), Marvin & Juliann Green(M38), Bill Barnes and Joe Sheaffer (Mighty Mite & M151A2 Fast Attack Vehicle), Steve Smith & Lisa Fox (Command Car) and Jim & Sara Starbird (M38) set up vehicles on display. David Hopkins stopped by to visit. It was a hot afternoon and the club decided to purchase a canopy for the remainder of the weekend.

The Saturday night BBQ was organized by Marsha Jones. The food was excellent and there was ample time to visit. Paul Harless congratulated Jerome Casey and Marsha Jones for all their efforts and planning that went into the 1st Annual Red Ball Convoy. Sunday morning departure was rather chaotic. Hal Miller went to load up his jeep and trailer but when he got to the parking lot his haul trailer was missing. The policeman checked out a number of possibilities but in the end determined someone had stole it. While trying to sort through this problem a call came in that the Clarion Inn was on fire. Soon all the fire engines and emergency crews arrived. The members standing around ran to the Inn to help clear the building of remaining people. A tar pot on the roof (workers were repairing the roof) had caught on fire drawing the fumes down into the Inn. The fire was contained in the tar pot. Time to head home.

At Devil's Den State Park we stopped for a group photo, lunch and a chance to socialize. The return to Fayetteville took us through some fairly steep roads with a number of switchbacks. There were no breakdowns. At the turnaround area of Devil's Den it took a bit of "doin" to turn Molly's Deuce with the Water Buffalo through the turn. The final stop was at Brentwood City Park on Hwy 71. From there we returned to the Clarion Inn in Fayetteville. (This Volume is under Construction)

From Lake Wedington we convoyed to a scenic overlook, and then on to a stop at Prarie Grove State Park, a Civil War Battle Grounds. Our next leg of the trip tooks us to Hogeye Mall for a pit stop and where a few of the vehicles filled up with gas. (Note how the price of fuel has gone up since May 03.

26 military vehicles, 6 trailers, 60 people, and 4 dogs participated in the Red Ball Convoy. It was a cold start (in the lower 40s) but warmed up as the day went on. The Convoy lined up at the Clarion Inn in Fayetteville and then convoyed west to Lake Wedington for the first leg of the route along the 100 mile drive. Refreshments were served at this brief stop. Participants had an opportunity to visit and get acquainted. All vehicles particapating were photographed.