A Moving Piece of History

For a few moments, history was not something found in a book or museum. It was rolling right through town.

A historic World War II military vehicle convoy recently passed through the community, giving residents a chance to see restored military vehicles up close and reflect on the people and families connected to their history.

The convoy is part of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, restoring and sharing historic military vehicles with the public.

The organization traces its roots to 1976, when fewer than 100 members formed what was then called the Military Vehicle Collectors Club. Membership grew quickly, and the group eventually became the Military Vehicle Preservation Association in 1990.

Today, the MVPA includes thousands of members and a iate groups in the United States and around the world. The organization has become known for conventions, historic vehicle restorations and large-scale convoys that bring military history onto the road.

For local resident Mary Machart, watching the World War II convoy come through town carried a more personal meaning.

Machart’s son, Bobby Machart, has served in the military, and seeing the older vehicles brought thoughts of military families from generations past. “I always knew how blessed we were to have Skype, texting and cell phones when our son deployed,” Machart said. “I could never imagine what those women back then went through waiting for letters.”

As the convoy made its way into Culbertson, Machart said it felt as though the community had been transported back to another time.

“As the convoy started to roll into town, it was like stepping back in time,” she said. “In a sense, it was closer to putting ourselves into their shoes.”

The experience became even more meaningful as Machart stood beside a neighbor whose brothers had served during World War II.

Machart recalled hearing stories of the woman’s mother walking to the mailbox, hoping each day to find a letter from one of her sons.

Watching the convoy brought those memories back.

Machart said she could see the emotion behind her neighbor’s smile as she waved to the people passing by in the military vehicles.

The people in the convoy waved back, and for Machart, the simple exchange represented something larger.

“There was a special connection made,” she said.

She described it as a connection between veterans, emergency responders, military members, civilians and the families of those who have served or are currently serving.

For a brief time, strangers were brought together by a shared appreciation for military service and the history represented by the vehicles passing in front of them.

The MVPA has organized historic convoys for decades as a way to keep that history moving. Past events have included a 1,900-mile Alaska- Canada Highway convoy and a re-creation of the 1919 Transcontinental Motor Convoy from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco.

Through events such as these, the organization works to ensure historic military vehicles are not only preserved, but also seen and experienced by future generations.

For Machart, the local convoy did exactly that.

What began as a line of historic vehicles moving through town became a reminder of those who served, the families who waited at home and the connections that military service continues to create.

For a brief but meaningful moment, the community was able to share in that history together.