Merci Boxcar - Fresno, CA, USA
Posted by: 
fresgo
N 36° 46.943 W 119° 46.369
11S E 252556 N 4074318
at the American Legion Fresno Federal Post #509
3509 N. 1st St.
Fresno, CA 93726
Waymark Code: WM60AR
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 03/10/2009
Views: 15
French Citizens sent 49 boxcars filled with gifts for the 48 states and one to be shared by Washington DC and the territory of Hawaii. The gift was a Thank You for support given the French by Americans in 1948. The California Boxcar was placed in Fresno by then Governor Earl Warren. The boxcar used to be located at Fresno's Roeding Park, however a few years ago it was adopted by the American Legion Post #509 and moved to their hall where it was restored after decades of neglect.
From the marker
DEDICATED
NOVEMBER 11, 1949
FRENCH MERCI TRAIN BOXCAR
THIS IS ONE OF THE FRENCH BOXCARS OF THE
FRENCH MERCI TRAIN SENT TO THE UNITED STATES
IN 1949 AS A THANK YOU TOKEN TO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE FOR THE FREEDOM SHIP OF FOOD AND
CLOTHING SENT TO FRANCE IN 1948.
THE CAR WAS FILLED WITH MANY ARTICLES
OF HANDCRAFT AND HEIRLOOMS FROM
THE FRENCH PEOPLE.
THIS IS THE KIND OF BOXCAR THAT
TRANSPORTED OUR MEN, HORSES AND EQUIPMENT
IN FRANCE DURING WORLD WAR I AND
APPROXIMATELY MARKED "40 MEN OR 8 HORSES.
THIS CAR WAS ALLOCATED TO CALIFORNIA
AND GIVEN TO THE 40/8 SOCIETE BY
GOVERNOR EARL WARREN AND PLACED
IN FRESNO AS A WAR MEMORIAL.