Even as the rain began to fall, North Idahoans stood proud and tall waving banners, balloons and flags of every size, variety and condition.

Masses lined overpasses and stretches of Interstate 90 to show their support for the American Freedom Convoy as it rolled through Kootenai County Wednesday morning.

"I'm here for my children's future and that we continue to have freedom in this country," Kimberly Cloward of Rathdrum tearfully said as she waved a tattered American flag bearing the words of the Second Amendment.

"I'm scared for their future and I just want them to have the life I had growing up," she said.

Residents from across the county gathered over the freeway to wave and cheer for truckers as they make their way to Washington, D.C., in protest of COVID-19 pandemic mandates.

Many bundled in winter gear, some wore camouflage and others wore cowboy hats. They brought their babies, their bluetooth speakers and some captured the excitement using drones.

Nolan Gaul of Post Falls slowly waved a Second Amendment flag attached to a 24-foot pole above those who cheered from the Greensferry overpass in Post Falls. He represented his family members involved in the convoy as well as his relatives who have fought for freedom in past wars.

"I lost two great uncles in World War II, one was actually the Battle of Midway," he said. "I had two uncles that came back and they were so shellshocked from what they had been through that they never got married."

He said his family also suffered losses fighting in the Civil War.

"So what can I do? I'll just wave this flag for a while," he said. "We're Americans and we got to stand for what we stand for. We got to be patriotic. The Constitution is our rule of law and I want to do what I can to help."

People sang "The Star Spangled Banner," their voices harmonizing with the deep bellowing horns that came from trucks on the interstate below.

"It's beautiful," Hannah Smith of Post Falls said. "I've cried about three times. I believe in this country, I believe in our freedom. Everything that's going on right now is absolutely ridiculous. Just to see this many people out, and I know they're on every single bridge in Kootenai County from here to the end, that's incredible and I'm so proud to be an American and part of this community."