The first sounds you heard Sunday as the Highway 41 Toy Convoy & Show rolled into Wartrace was the high lonesome wail of a firetruck siren followed by the low rumble of dozens of motorcycles. The first vehicle to come into view was a motorhome fitted out for Operation 22 to Zero, an organization dedicated to curbing the high rate of suicides of military members both active and veterans. ...
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The first sounds you heard Sunday as the Highway 41 Toy Convoy & Show rolled into Wartrace was the high lonesome wail of a firetruck siren followed by the low rumble of dozens of motorcycles.
The first vehicle to come into view was a motorhome fitted out for Operation 22 to Zero, an organization dedicated to curbing the high rate of suicides of military members both active and veterans. The Operation 22 to Zero bus was a suitable leader for the 24th anniversary run of the Toy Convoy which this year honored military and first responders.
Most of the convoy vehicles were patriotically decorated with the nation’s flag and many also displayed Thin Blue Line American flags. Surprisingly only a handful of vehicles engaged in politicking. Of those that did, all supported President Donald Trump. No Biden/Harris signs.
An elderly Wartrace Volunteer Fire Department truck sported a Trump flag. It is generally frowned upon and illegal in most states to use a government owned vehicle to support a candidate for political office or to try to influence a ballot measure. In Tennessee it is illegal for state employees to use state owned property for campaign activities or advertising.
Tennessee law states “a) It is unlawful for any elected or appointed official of the state, or any employee of the state or any department, division or agency thereof, to display campaign literature, banners, placards, streamers, stickers, signs or other items of campaign or political advertising on behalf of any party, committee or agency or candidate for political office, on the premises of any building or land owned by the state, or to use any of the facilities of the state, including equipment and vehicles, for such purposes.” — Tennessee Code 2-19-206
Four-wheel vehicles, except for the Jeeps, filled the available parking at the square. Jeeps and other four-wheel drive rigs parked on the lawn across the street and the motorcycles were directed to the parking lot of the old Walking Horse Hotel.
As the afternoon’s festivities got underway, it was apparent that anyone concerned about the rising spread of COVID-19 should stay clear of the square as not one mask was visible.
• Editor’s note: The Times-Gazette attempted to reach the Wartrace Fire Department by telephone.
