Morning Journal file/Ron Firth The Military Vehicle Preservation Association convoy made its way through East Palestine in 2009.

EAST PALESTINE — Those who didn’t have the opportunity to experience the transcontinental motor convoy that stopped in the village 10 years ago will get a second chance on Aug. 14.

The Military Vehicle Preservation Association recently announced plans for the weeks-long trip that will begin in Washington D.C. on Aug. 11 in honor of the original U.S. Army convoy’s 100th anniversary.

The stop in East Palestine on Aug. 14 is only one leg of the trip that will end in San Francisco on Sept 14.

The Preservation Association said in the announcement there will be as many as 70 historic military vehicles from all eras in the convoy that will retrace the original 1919 U.S. Army convoy route along the famed Lincoln Highway.

The 1919 convoy was done for several reasons, which included putting the equipment through as grueling a trial as could be devised, studying how the varying road conditions affected each branch of the service, and to serve as a recruiting drive for the Army in addition to demonstrating the need for good roads, the association said.

The convoy’s other unwritten objective was to say “thanks” to the American people for their support during World War I, the association added.

The original convoy consisted of 81 Army vehicles with 37 officers, including Lt. Col. Dwight D. Eisenhower, and 258 enlisted men.

The association said this year’s convoy will include cargo trucks through to Harley Davidson WLA motorcycles, staff cars and jeeps to later model M913 5-ton cargo trucks.

Barb Kliner of East Palestine is looking forward to seeing the convoy this year, since he wasn’t able to see the one that passed through in 2009.

“They tell me it was a really good turnout from the community,” she said of the previous convoy. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for some people to see what these old vehicles look like.”

The convoy in 2009 only stopped in the park for lunch and left that same day while this year’s convoy will stay overnight, she added.

The village manager, park board, local chamber of commerce, and East Palestine community are already preparing for the visit.

Donations of covered dishes and desserts from local restaurants, organizations, and resident volunteers are being solicited for the dinner that will be served to the convoy during it stay.

The convoy is expected to arrive in East Palestine at 3 p.m. on Aug. 14 and will depart the following morning. It will enter the village along Pennsylvania Route 51 on the east side of town and come west on East Main Street crossing Market Street into the park.

Residents along the route are being asked to decorate their homes with a patriotic theme and stand out and wave as they arrive.

“It is a piece of history that is visiting East Palestine and we want to get everybody invited to come watch and participate,” Kliner said.

To donate items for the event, contact Sandy Wales at 330-426-2045 or Kliner at 330-426-4860.

kwhite@mojonews.com