posted 06-29-2002 08:34 PM         

Over 1,000 Vettes were cruising across the US today displaying the Flag. All on their way or driving along to show support for the group heading all the way to NYC. This was organized by the members of the Corvette Forum web site.
Their Mission for this tour:
"To honor our country, to make a donation to the bereaved of 9/11, to display the patriotism of the Corvette community, and have fun in the process."

On Saturday, June 29th, Karen & I joined the 21 Corvettes who escorted the three Louisiana Corvette owners (Marty & Pam Straub (New Orleans), Jackie Goldberg & her niece (New Orleans), & (Don Turnley Baton Rouge) who are making the trip to NYC as part of the National Stars & Stripes Across America tour... Val (one of the organizers from AL) led the group from New Orleans to Mobile. He had a US Flag (which had flown over the Capital Bldg. on Apr. 16th). The flag will be carried with the caravan and presented to the City of NY on July 4th at the WTC site along with the log book (which we all signed) of Corvette owners who participated along the way.

This leg of the tour started in New Orleans at the Superdome. We picked up one more Vette in MS and than cruised into the Hooters at Mobile, AL... There the two LA clubs (Louisiana & Lower Alabama) along with a few FL & MS Vettes put on a Car Display and along with Hooters had a Charity Collection for the Fire Dept.'s Rescue Dog squad... One of the Alabama organizers told me they counted 61 or 62 Vettes there in Mobile at Hooters... At 2:00 PM the group left on their way to Birmingham to spend the night and tomorrow they will drive into Bowling Green to meet up with the National Caravan from the West, Southwest & Midwest. From there they will caravan into the Pentagon on 7/03 and into NYC WTC on the 4th... After wishing everyone good luck & safe trip, our New Orleans group all headed back to Louisiana...

Here's a couple of links to the web site for the Stars & Stripes Across America:
http://www.grammonline.com/starsandstripes/ http://www.grammonline.com/starsandstripes/sas_overview.htm

Here's the three Louisiana Vette owners who are going all the way to NYC... And, they're driving Red, White & Blue Vettes... Now, that's what you call Bayou planning...

I had the honor to carry the US Flag 55 miles during the caravan today (from MS exit #2 to exit #57). When we stopped at the MS rest stop Eddie presented me with the Flag to carry to our next stop. Here's Eddie & Eric (active suty AF, both just returned from their assignment in AF#@*&!%$@" & KU&$#?) handing me the flag (which flew over the Capital Bldg on Apr. 16th).

Here I'm presenting the flag to Ryan (active duty AF) for him to carry into AL.

What a fun day. And, I'm Proud to be an American & God Bless the USA... laddie...

posted 06-30-2002 08:55 AM         

Marty