John Wayne’s epic ‘Freedom Prepare’ may save America’s 250th birthday

[ad_1] <img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3469d77d8c007cd11bf03711a2558f2e" id="28933" src="https://www.conservativereview.com/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZWJsYXplLmNvbS9tZWRpYS1saWJyYXJ5L2pvaG4td2F5bmVzLWVwaWMtZnJlZWRvbS10cmFpbi1jb3VsZC1zYXZlLWFtZXJpY2FzLTI1MHRoLWJpcnRoZGF5LmpwZz9pZD02MDA1ODUzOSZhbXA7d2lkdGg9MTIwMCZhbXA7aGVpZ2h0PTgwMCZhbXA7Y29vcmRpbmF0ZXM9MCw0OSwwLDUwIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc4MDczODU5NH0.ib4a5iGa9y4IaZWG8Qw7SrVtYH3OAs-AMkk0fKQ-5a0/image.jpg" /> Many People of Technology X and older will recall the crimson, white, and blue American Freedom Prepare that was a centerpiece of America’s wonderful bicentennial celebration in 1976. However few know that the Freedom Prepare — pulled by a steam locomotive and stuffed with American historic artifacts — was the brainchild of none apart from John Wayne. As we quick strategy the 250th anniversary of American independence, it’s time to get Wayne’s American Freedom Prepare again on the tracks as a part of the quarter-millennium celebration.

Ross Rowland, who spearheaded the American Freedom Prepare effort as a younger man, just lately advised me how Wayne got here to have the concept. Rowland had run away from residence within the Nineteen Fifties and fortuitously ended up working as a groundskeeper for Wayne. The Duke befriended Rowland and ultimately satisfied him to return residence. Rowland, whose father, grandfather, and great-grandfather had all been railroad males, had success on Wall Avenue after which commemorated the centennial of the 1869 “golden spike” — the completion of the transcontinental railroad — by having a steam practice journey from New York Metropolis to Salt Lake Metropolis.

There’s nonetheless an opportunity to make the quarter-millennium anniversary a spectacular, unifying occasion just like the bicentennial was a half-century in the past.

Wayne joined Rowland for the ultimate leg of that journey (and organized to have “True Grit” premiere in Salt Lake Metropolis the night time earlier than). As they rode in an open-air practice automobile, observing the big crowds as they handed, Rowland says Wayne advised him one thing to the impact of, “, Ross, we’ve obtained America’s two hundredth birthday arising. We must always do that for that.” They usually did. Rowland dealt with many of the planning and execution, Wayne obtained help from Bing Crosby and others in Hollywood, and President Richard Nixon agreed to let the practice carry artifacts normally housed on the Smithsonian, Library of Congress, and Nationwide Archives.

The American Freedom Prepare was an incredible success. Through the bicentennial interval, it traveled to all 48 contiguous states, stopped 138 instances, and had a mean of greater than 50,000 guests board at every cease. Driving alongside a shifting walkway, guests noticed such artifacts as Paul Revere’s saddlebags, President George Washington’s copy of the Structure, the precise Louisiana Buy doc, Abraham Lincoln’s prime hat, Babe Ruth’s bat, John F. Kennedy’s handwritten copy of his inaugural tackle, and different artifacts, sufficient to fill 12 show vehicles.

The American Freedom Prepare, maybe greater than the rest, tied the nationwide and native bicentennial celebrations collectively. John Warner, who headed up the congressionally created American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, mentioned the practice was “essentially the most seen” of the bicentennial choices and was in a position to “sew collectively” varied festivities. President Ford mentioned it “introduced the story of America to the individuals.”

Through the current interval of peak wokeness — from round 2020 to 2024 — it seemed just like the nation’s 250th anniversary risked turning into extra of a condemnation than a celebration of American historical past. President Donald Trump’s defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris largely ensured that the event can be a celebration. But there's a very actual hazard that this milestone anniversary — maybe the most effective likelihood in 50 years to reset how People view our nation’s founding — would possibly barely register with the general public, making it an enormous misplaced alternative.

Planning for the quarter-millennium is woefully far behind the place planning was at this stage for the bicentennial. The official planning entity, created by Congress throughout the Obama administration, is ineffective and targeted on range, fairness, and inclusion. President Trump correctly created Job Pressure 250 to fill this void, but it surely faces a extreme scarcity of time.

Thankfully, the American Freedom Prepare may hit the tracks within the first half of 2026. Rob Gardner, president of the American Steam Railroad, advised me the “sister engine” of a locomotive that pulled the practice throughout the bicentennial is being restored and will probably be prepared for motion. All that’s actually wanted is for President Trump to authorize the usage of federal artifacts on the Smithsonian, Library of Congress, and Nationwide Archives, constant along with his current govt order telling the Smithsonian to cease denigrating America and as an alternative “remind People of our extraordinary heritage.” Every part else would shortly fall into place.

There’s nonetheless an opportunity to make the quarter-millennium anniversary a spectacular and unifying occasion just like the bicentennial was a half-century in the past. Reprising the American Freedom Prepare is an enormous a part of that. Let’s convey again John Wayne’s rolling tribute to America’s most interesting.