North Dakota’s French Gratitude Train boxcar is one of forty-three remaining boxcars in the United States. It is the collection of gifts, in the North Dakota 40 & 8 boxcar, that are a rare find. Most of the items from the boxcar are in the collections of the State Historical Society of North Dakota. The 500 objects, featured in this exhibit, are examples of everyday life, childhood, historic treasures, and personal mementos of the French civilian population that endured World War II.
The boxcar renovation, shelter, and exhibit were made possible by statewide contributions from La Societe Des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux organizations, a Save America's Treasures grant, and appropriations from the North Dakota legislature....
The Gratitude Train arrived in New York Harbor aboard the Magellan, a French merchant ship, in February 1949. The Gratitude Train, a gift from France, contained 49 boxcars. Each car was filled with gifts to the people of the United States from the people of France.
In 1947 an American Friendship Train carried $40 million in relief supplies to France and Italy. Initiated by Drew Pearson, an American newspaper columnist, over 700 carloads of food, fuel, and clothing, donated by the citizens of the United States, brought relief to war-torn Europe.
A French railworker and war veteran, Andre Picard, initiated the project of a French Thank You Train. The train had such appeal that the project, which began with one boxcar, ended with a train of 49 boxcars; one for each of the 48 states. The 49th was to be shared by the District of Columbia and the Territory of Hawaii.
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2 comments:
If only they'd've sent some chicks.
Where's the real gratitude, Pepe!?!
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