BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – From the American Revolution to the World Wars, America and France have an extensive history of working with one another. Gift-giving is a part of that. You might be most familiar with France’s gift to us, the Statue of Liberty, but there’s so much more that’s been exchanged between our countries.
If you’ve visited the State Museum and Heritage Center before, chances are you might have seen a train car at the back of the building. However, you might wonder exactly why it’s there. That’s what the State Historical Society and Museum’s Gallery Guide Tom Chase said happened to him.
“I thought, ‘Why do we have this box car outside?’ So, I wanted to delve into it a little bit more and find out what it was all about, so I did!” Chase said.
What Chase discovered was a story dating back to World War 2.
“There was a reporter that was over in Europe and saw the devastation and thought, ‘We have to do something to help these people. Well, what can we do?’” Chase said.
Chase said the reporter broadcasted over the radio about the situation in Europe in 1948. The American public decided it wanted to help. A train would travel across the U.S. and people could donate items and supplies by leaving them in the boxcars.
“North Dakota, of course, contributed to it, and we don’t know the exact numbers, but it’s carloads of grain from North Dakota that went to France,” said Education and Engagement Manager Laura Forde.
“By the time the train got to New York City, there were 270 boxcars on three separate trains full of goods that the American people had given to the Europeans,” Chase said.
Those supplies included construction materials, clothing, food and more.
“That was one year. The following year, the French said, ‘We have to do something to thank them, what can we do?’” Chase said.
They decided to return the favor. They built special Gratitude Boxcars which the French people filled up with all sorts of things: paintings, dolls, alcohol and so much more. In total, 49 full boxcars were sent, one for each state at the time and Washington D.C.
Chase said North Dakota is only one of a few states left that still has its boxcar and the contents sent in it.
“The train car is so neat because it was from people to people, there wasn’t government involvement. The people running the railroads donated the engineers, their time and the trains. The people who had the shipping lines donated the ships and the people to run it, to bring it over there,” Chase said.
Chase and Forde said it’s a physical sign of a long-lasting friendship between two countries.
You can see some of the items from North Dakota’s boxcar on the Heritage Society’s archives website. You can also visit the Merci Train website for more info.
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