Historic military vehicles convoy into Nevada

FALLON - The Silver State International Rodeo will hold its annual Fourth of July parade at 10 a.m. today in Fallon.

The parade will start at Taylor and Virginia streets, travel north to A Street; turn east on A Street to Ada Street; travel south from Ada Street to Williams Avenue; and then move east on Williams Avenue to Maine Street. The parade will then head north on Maine Street to end at North Maine and B streets.

Most state teams participating in the rodeo will have floats carrying rodeo students, but this year's parade features a unique entry that ties in well with its patriotic theme.

The Transcontinental Motor Convoy, a collection of vehicles from the Military Vehicle Preservation Association, will participate in Fallon's Fourth of July parade as the convoy makes it way from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco along the Lincoln Highway.

The vehicles are marking the 90th anniversary of the 1919 Army Transcontinental Convoy which explored the possibility of moving troops and equipment quickly across the country. According to the convoy's Web site, the convoy traveled 3,251 miles on the newly created Lincoln Highway in 62 days at an average speed of six miles per hour.

Rick Dentino, executive director of the Fallon Chamber of Commerce, said the MVPA called him for assistance in finding local accommodations for the 70 vehicles.

Naval Air Station Fallon has offered to host the drivers and their vehicles the night before the parade, and businessman Ed Louie agreed to let the group set up a static display in the old Wal-Mart parking lot following the parade.

Julie Borgna, SSIR parade organizer, said other parade entries include floats for youth groups, two car clubs, a number of novelty vehicles and antique tractors.

All seven rodeo-queen candidates will ride in the parade, along with several people riding on horse back and several horse-drawn wagons.

Borgna said one entry will even provide cool treats like ice cream or popsicles to parade watchers. As in years past, residents are permitted to douse students on the rodeo floats with water, but beware - the kids will shoot back with their water guns.