Waves of Americans support Freedom Convoy

Thousands upon thousands of Americans from all walks of life, political beliefs, vaccinated and unvaccinated gathered at overpasses, highways, and byways across America this past week to cheer on The People’s Convoy of trucks, cars and pickups as they made their way to Washington D.C. in an effort to end the Emergency Powers Act for Coronavirus, including all mandates.
The convoys eventually merged and arrived in D.C. on Sunday, March 6. One leg of the convoy started in Oregon and ended up traveling through Nebraska down I-80. After entering Nebraska, the Oregon convoy stayed the night on Thursday, March 3, in Big Springs, where they were welcomed with a rally of approximately 50 people, according to Patti Barnt from Mullen, who served as the western regional lead for The People’s Convoy (TPC)-Nebraska.
 Tammy McConnell of Lewellen was the local contact for the Big Springs rally, Barnt said. Approximately 40 trucks and cars spent the night at Big Springs and were provided a meal of hamburgers, Rocky Mountain Oysters, beans and salads. Donations were also loaded in Big Springs onto the convoy’s supply trailer.
The Midwest Freedom Convoy departed Big Springs at 9 a.m. Friday, March 4. The convoy again stopped in North Platte for a slow roll across the overpass to pick up more supplies. At North Platte too was another crowd cheering the trucks on, including Grant and Imperial citizens. Among them were Scott and Stephanie Miller, Brian and Michele Miller, Dan Thompson, Joe and Jennifer Tatum and their daughter all from Grant.
According to Scott Miller, he and his family were out supporting the convoy during the day because he sees how America’s freedoms are being slowly taken away each day, and he feels that more people need to stand up and fight for what America was originally founded for— life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Barnt said that people were at every rest area, in fields, and along every overpass along with interstate except two, all cheering and honking for the convoy.
Another rally was held at Bosselman’s Truck Stop in Grand Island, where the supply trailer was completely filled. All the leftover donations were taken to area homeless and women’s shelters, Barnt said. Barnt was thankful for everyone who helped with the Nebraska efforts during the organization leading up to the convoy. She stated she got involved with helping the efforts because she believes the vaccine mandates are destroying rural healthcare and rural communities, especially nursing homes “Several nursing homes in the state closed last year and more this year,” she said. “One of the facilities closing is Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home in Mullen, where my mother, Peggy, is a resident.”
Barnt said her mother turns 89 years old this month and Barnt will be moving her for the third time in three years. “One of the main reasons we were given for the facility closing is a nationwide staff shortage primarily from the vaccine mandates. We are standing up not only for our children and future generations, but for our elderly who are being forced to leave their communities. Not only does this harm the residents and their families, but the closings also harm the rural communities,” she said.
Barnt said Americans are increasingly frustrated, and its time to remind the politicians in our state and in DC they work for the people.
The Nebraska Convoy stopped in Des Moines, Iowa for the night, meeting up with other legs of the convoy and then traveling on I-70, I-90 and the northern tier that started in Minot, ND on Saturday in Spiceland, Ind. Sunday.
They then merged with another leg of the convoy and traveled the rest of the way to Beltway area near D.C., Barnt said. Reports from the official American Freedom Convoy on Sunday stated the convoy was over 15 miles long, Barnt said.
Barnt said there are efforts underway to support the truckers’ return home after the rally. People can keep up with news of the Nebraska efforts on the app Telegram on the channel The People’s Convoy- Nebraska, or on Facebook at The People’s Convoy on Facebook.