the merci train

It may not seem like much to track down unless you're interested in History or trains. Since we Home School and we're starting WW II history it was a must see for us. I have to admit, as many years as I've studied History, I never heard of the Merci Trains until we went to Cheyenne. This train car can be found on display at the American Legion Post #6 at 2201 E. Lincolnway. It's been restored and is in the parking lot. In 1948, after WWII, gift filled railroad cars were sent, one to each state as a thank you gift from the French in gratitude for American help rebuilding their country after the war. These cars were filled with exquisite French gifts. Prior to this, America sent boxcars to France filled with food for the war-ravaged France.

France went 50 box train cars filled with gifts as a thank you to America for its help during World War II. Each state was given a car. The car that went to Wyoming is sitting in a fenced off area in front of an American Legion post. The story is heart warming but the post has not done it justice. There is no plaque or descriptive material anywhere to tell passers by about this unique piece of history.

I have seen this little box car 100s of times growing up. Even having a maters in history did not shed light on why this box car has been sitting there fenced off for years. A little information can change an oddity into something very cool.

The small boxcar fenced off in a parking lot makes no sence without knowing its story. The story made it come to life. I would not have given it a second thought without knowledge of why it was there. The Internet story is long, so I won't repeat it here.