Story Archive

Wrong Place, Wrong Time, Wrong Van

When people saw a van next to the Nashville, Tenn., International Airport — painted in camouflage with missiles and guns mounted on it — they quite naturally called the police. When officers arrived, they found Jeffery Smith with the van. They confirmed the vehicle had four missiles and a cannon on top, two machine guns on the front hood, and a .50-caliber machine gun inside. It turns out all of the weapons were made of wood and PVC pipe, and the van was part of a tribute to service members who are missing in action or prisoners of war. And it was stopped there not to make a statement, but because it had broken down. “Of all the places to break down, I had to break down in front of the airport,” Smith laughed. Officers eventually released him, and no charges were filed. Smith has repaired the van and says he will keep driving it. “It’s not the intent to scare people. It’s a military tribute vehicle for our servicemen and -women who have served our country,” he said. “Hopefully if someone sees it, they’ll remember someone in the military.” (MS/Nashville Tennessean) ...It’s guaranteed those who see it will remember it.