75th Anniversary of the Merci Train
It started with the American Friendship Train in 1947 and ended with the MERCI Train in 1949.
The Merci Train box cars, that we know, were gifted to the United States from France in 1949. But this Merci Train was in appreciation for the AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP TRAIN of 1947. Watch the video to understand how this all began. American's gave so much to help those in France, Italy and Europe who were in desperate need of food, clothing, fuel and other necessities after the war. One good deed deserves another, as you discover, how the French Gratitude (Merci) Train came round circle in thanks to the American peoples for their compassion and generosity.
43 of the 49 box cars remain. 48 went to individual states with one to be shared by Hawaii and Washington D.C. The box cars of the Merci Train provide us history of this great organization and what they represent, both in war and peace time.
75 years of allied friendship.
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