La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux
THE SOCIETY OF 40 MEN & 8 HORSES
THE GRANDE VOITURE DU TEXAS
TRAIN DE LA RECONNAISSANCE FRANÇAISE
75th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION CAMP MABRY, AUSTIN, TEXAS MARCH 22, 2024
The Forty & Eight
OUR 1920 FOUNDERS WERE VETERANS OF W.W.I. FRANCE.
During the First World War, French boxcars carried American Doughboys to the front. These wartime boxcars, which held either 40 men or 8 horses, were emblazoned with a “40/8”; a symbol readily understood by American veterans of that era. Today our organization’s titles are in French and we meet in symbolic W.W.I. train depots, in grateful homage to the sacrifices of our Doughboy founders and indeed to honor all Americans who yet serve. -- We are most commonly known as “La Societe” or simply “The Forty & Eight”.
Please visit our website at WWW.TEXASBOXCAR.ORG
The Texas Merci Boxcar prior to 2014 move and 2017 Shield Update.
Forty & Eight Titles and Phrases
Chef de Chemin de Fer National Commander of the 40 & 8
Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer National Vice-Commander of the 40 & 8
Cheminot Nationale National Voiture Executive Committee
Grande / Locale State or Local Level Officers
Chef de Gare
Chief of Station or Commander
Chef de Train Train Master or Vice-Commander
Conducteur Sergeant at Arms
Correspondant
Adjutant
Commissaire Intendant Finance Officer
Aumonier Chaplain
Voyageur Militaire Military Traveler
Chapeaux Hat or Cap
American Doughboys aboard 40 & 8 rail cars during WWI / Photo Courtesy of U.S. Signal Corp 1917PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, the great French Nation, through the French War Veterans, is showing its appreciation to the United States for the "Friendship Train" by sending a "Train of Gratitude" to this country, and
WHEREAS, this "Train of Gratitude" will consist of French box cars filled with typical French nonluxury items, exclusive of raw materials received under the Marshall Plan, such as: Sevres pottery, Limoges porcelains, Brittany bonnets, engraved woodwork, Annecy Church bells, Baccarat crystals, peasant costumes, and historical documents of mutual interest to the two countries, these to be gifts for the American people, and
WHEREAS, the "Train of Gratitude" will travel through France, as the "Friendship Train” traveled throughout the United States, picking up gifts of local organizations, and upon arrival in the United States will be divided into three or four sectional trains to different areas of the country, leaving one box car in each State, and
WHEREAS, these historical box cars will be given to La Societe des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux of the American Legion in each State. The gifts contained therein will be auctioned off, and the proceeds therefrom used for Child Welfare work,
NOW THEREFORE, I, BEAUFORD JESTER, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, do hereby proclaim that the Grand Voiture of Texas, La Societe des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux of the Department of Texas, the American Legion, shall have charge of the "Train of Gratitude " when it enters upon Texas soil, to carry out the purposes for which said train was sent, andto represent the Governor and the people of this State in said enterprise ".
Governor Jester signed the proclamation August 27, 1948.
Design of Gratitude Train Boxcars from Drew Pearson Files
On February 2, 1949 the French Freighter Magellan arrives with gifts of gratitude from the people of France. Spectators can see “Merci America” painted on the sides as it arrives in New York Harbor amidst great fanfare. (Courtesy Life Magazine 1949)
Photo above left: Drew Pearson, Salvind Olson and Senator Tom Connally of Texas. (Photo courtesy of LBJ Presidential Library / Pearson Papers)
Texas “Merci” Boxcar
The Texas Merci Boxcar is one of the 49 boxcars given to the United StatesinFebruary 1949 as part of the TRAIN DE LA RECONNAISSANCE FRANÇAISE. Each boxcar came filled with gifts from the people of France. The boxcars, referred to as “Forty & Eights”, were primarily used during WWI to transport soldiers and horses throughout France.
The American Friendship Train In 1947 the people of France and Italy were still struggling to recover from the devastation of World War II. After seeing this firsthand, noted columnist and journalist Drew Pearson spearheaded the idea of providing them with essential food items: flour, beans, evaporated milk, macaroni, sugar, and wheat. Americans contributed generously to the purely grass-roots effort, filling the “Friendship Train" with an estimated $40 million in relief supplies.
The French Gratitude Train Touched by this response to their need, the French answered with a program of their own. The idea originated with André Picard and Louis Cast, both veterans and delegates of the French railroad. They suggested that a boxcar be filled with gifts from every part of France and sent to the United States as a gesture of gratitude.
The idea led to the creation of a committee to solicit enough gifts to fill one boxcar. France’s response exceeded all expectations and it soon became obvious that a single boxcar could not hold all the items The French War Veterans Association assumed control of the project and decided to try to fill 49 boxcars, one for every state then in the union and one boxcar for the District of Columbia and territory of Hawaii. In all, 52,000 gifts, weighing 250 tons were collected during 1948 and loaded into the 49 boxcars, which were then loaded aboard the freighter Magellan at Le Havre France for their transatlantic journey.
The ship, with "Merci America" adorning its sides, received a royal welcome in New York Harbor on February 2, 1949. Congress had passed a resolution allowing the gifts to enter the country duty-free and longshoremen volunteered their services to bring the cars ashore. The French boxcars were loaded onto flatcars and delivered to state capitals across the country, at no charge.
Upon reaching their destinations, the cars were greeted by dignitaries at special ceremonies. Their contents, after being displayed for a time, were distributed in a variety of ways. Many were sold at auction, with the proceeds going to charity, while some especially significant items went to various public institutions.
Unfortunately, few of the gifts lovingly placed in the cars by the citizens of France can be traced today. But those cars that have survived vandalism and the ravages of time testify to a great expression of friendship and caring between two nations and their peoples who fought side by side for a common goal more than half a century ago.
Texas Merci Boxcar arrives in Fort Worth, Texas and then on to Austin where it was unloaded. The boxcar and artifacts were on display in San Antonio for several weeks before it was relocated back to Camp Mabry in Austin where the 1st Annual Pilgrimage was held in 1950!
Above a Brownie Troop visits the boxcar in Fort Worth and photo of Drew Pearson in Texas. (photo courtesy Ft. Worth Star Telegram)
The Texas Merci Car Pilgrimage started in 1950 and continued until 2021 when the Annual Pilgrimage in Austin ended. Of the 75 years, Austin hosted the Spring Cheminot for 72 of those years.
Austin plans to continue to host the Spring Cheminot every 5 years.
The symbol of the Merci Train is a frontal view of a steam engine with flowers on the pilot which are symbolic of Flanders Field, where many American "Doughboys" from WWI are buried. The drawing was adopted as the official symbol of the French Merci Train Committee, and a plaque of the drawing was placed on each of the Merci boxcars. The committee also had gift tags made bearing the symbol, and one accompanied each of the more than 52,000 gifts sent in the 49 boxcars
GRATITUDE TRAIN AND TEXAS MERCI BOXCAR
75th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Master of Ceremonies
David J Knutson
Grand Chef de Gare Passe / Grand Directeur Boxcar
Pledge of Allegiance
Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer John Rodgers
Invocation
Grand Aumonier J. Sean Habina
Welcome
Grand Chef de Gare du Texas Keith Reiss Jr.
Special Presentation City Proclamation
Austin City Mayor Kirk Watson
Greetings from Camp Mabry
Garrison Commander
The Texas Military Forces Museum
Director Jeff Hunt
Introduction of Chef de Chemin de Fer Correspondant Nationale Ronald Rolfes
Forty & Eight Voiture Nationale
Chef de Chemin de Fer Frank Campo
GRATITUDE TRAIN AND TEXAS MERCI BOXCAR
75
th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Introduction of the Consul General of France
Honorary Consul General of France in Austin Liz Wiley
The Consul General of France
Valérie Baraban
Consul General of France in Houston
Presentation to Consul General of France
Chef de Chemin de Fer, Correspondant Nationale, Current Grand Chef de Gare & Grand Chefs Passe
Introduction of the Special Guest from France
Master of Ceremony David J Knutson
Special Guest from France
Olivier Chasle
Closing Remarks
Master of Ceremony David J Knutson
Benediction
Grand Aumonier J. Sean Habina
Adjourn for Photos
La Société des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Voiture Nationale
Paul J. Emmert, Sr. Directeur, National Box Car Association
345 Moores Branch Circle
Westminster, MD 21158
443-745-1948
pjemmertsr@comcast.net
February 2, 2024
David Knutson
Grand Directeur Box Car
Grande Voiture du Texas
Directeur Knutson,
I would like to extend my congratulations to Texas on this, the 75th Anniversary of the Merci Train and her 49 Box Cars, gifted to us by France in 1949.
As the National Directeur for the Box Car Program within La Société des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux, I have had the pleasure of reviewing several of the surviving Box Cars. I am especially proud when I see one such as Texas’, which has for 10 years now, been on exhibit at the Texas Military Forces Museum in Austin.
It is through the dedication of Voyageurs like yourself, and the many people who visit the exhibit every year, that I am able to have the confidence that what the Box Cars mean, and where they come from, will never be forgotten.
What you and your Comrades in Texas are continuing to do is a testament to dedication and respect for our Nation’s history, and also that of our friendship with France.
The crew and passengers on the Magellan would be proud, as would the original “Doughboys” from WWI.
For La Société,
Paul J. Emmert, Sr.
La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux
National Box Car
Association
VALÉRIE BARABAN
Valérie Baraban has served as Consul General of France in Houston since September 2021. She is the first woman and the first credentialed philosophy professor to hold this position. After teaching at the University of California and in France, she began her diplomatic career 15 years ago. She has worked in strategic affairs, security and defense and has held positions at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and NATO as well as in the French administration. Additionally, she headed the French Cooperation and Cultural Affairs Network in China.
Liz Wiley is an attorney with broad commercial litigation and intellectual property experience, obsessed with facilitating cross-border transactions and mitigating the communication mishaps that can derail them. Since 2011 she has applied her tech sector experience in patent litigation to connecting France’s dynamic tech ecosystems with Austin and vice versa. She has given several presentations in France to advise French companies setting up operations or partnerships in the U.S. and along the way has accumulated an estimated 35 treks to France. She is a founding director of the French American Business Council of Austin, Inc., was named in 2015 the Honorary Consul of France for Austin, and serves as the legal mentor for Austin’s “French Tech” initiative.
LIZ WILEY Honorary Consul General of France in Austin Consul General of France in Houston
Frank Campo was born in Springfield, IL where he grew up and attended school. Upon graduating he joined the US Army as a combat engineer in 1983. He married the former Jodie Cruthis in 2012, whom he has known since they were 10. They have a blended family of five children and thirteen grandchildren. Frank has a Bachelor of Arts from California State University San Bernardino in Criminal Justice and Paralegal Studies. He also is an ordained Baptist minister.
Frank served a distinguished military career with the United States Army being assigned to several location within the continental United States. He also served overseas in Germany and Panama. In the fall of 1990, he was assigned to the plans and operations section of the XVIII Airborne Corps in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm.
Frank is a member of the Fremont Voiture 1179 and was wrecked in June 2009. He was Grand Chef de Gare for the Grand du California in 2016 and elected Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer in 2019-2021. He is also a “Guardian” of the Paul Bunyan Gavel. Most recently, he served as Nationale Directeur of the Americanism Program and is an advisor to the Blue Chevaliers project.
Ron was born at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. He is a graduate of Holy Cross High School, New Orleans, La. He enlisted into the United States Air Force Reserve in 1981 and started his active-duty career in 1983 as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician. Ron spent most of his career in Europe and is a Desert Storm Veteran. He retired on 1 December 2003. Ron now resides in Hudson, Fla.
Ron was wrecked into La Societe, Voiture Locale 1554, Bitburg, Germany in October of 1992. He served V-1554 by holding various offices including Chef de Gare in 1998. Ron Served the Grande du Germany as Grand Cheminot from 1993-1996 He was elected as Grande Chef de Gare in 1999
In 2004, Ron was elected to the high office of Sous Chef de Chemin Der Fer for the 2005 year. In September of 2005, he was appointed Nationale Directeur VAVS/SVH and held that position till just recently. He accepted an appointment as Correspondant National in September 2023.
CHEF DE CHEMIN DE FER FRANK CAMPO CORRESPONDANT NATIONALE RON ROLFES
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson has been immersed in public policy in both local and state government in Texas for over three decades. He won his first term as Austin mayor in 1997 and was reelected with 84% of the vote. He earned praise for bringing different political factions together around transformative environmental and economic development initiatives. Watson returned to Austin City Hall in 2023 for a third term as mayor after serving more than 13 years in the Texas Senate, where he led on issues such as public education, healthcare and government transparency.
Currently, Mayor Watson is working to address Austin’s most pressing issues including affordability, transportation, public safety and homelessness. In July, Watson brought together several community partners to work with representatives of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the Governor’s Office to address the City’s homelessness crisis with a $64 million partnership to increase shelter capacity in Austin.
Olivier lives in Brittany, a French region famous for its buckwheat pancakes and its famous "Kouign Aman", a cake made mainly of butter and sugar! It's also a region almost entirely surrounded by the sea, with a strong maritime culture.
Olivier’s wife is an emergency doctor and they have three children.
Oliver has been making documentary films and TV magazines for 25 years, and has traveled extensively to discover new cultures. For a long time, he worked on scientific and naturalist films, but he has always been interested in history. His first historical film told the story of two war wounded who became lighthouse keepers. For several years now, Olivier has been interested in the history of the Merci Train, and says he finds the story fascinating
OLIVIER CHASLE Independent Film Director Brittany, France KIRK WATSON Mayor of Austin, Texas
SILVER SUPPORTERSOF THE GRANDE VOITURE DU TEXAS
Voiture Locale 1134
Corpus Christi, Texas
Voiture Locale 605
El Paso, Texas
Gerald “Jerry” Brady Chef de Chemin de Fer 2010
Robert “Bob” Nagle Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer 1998
Jim Sweeney Grand Chef de Train
John Rodgers Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer 2024
GOLD SUPPORTERS OF THE GRANDE VOITURE DU TEXAS Chef de Chemin de Fer Frank Campo Grand Chef De Gare du Texas Keith Reiss Jr. Bell County Voiture Locale 1031 Bexar County Voiture Locale 542
OLD SUPPORTERS OF THE GRANDE VOITURE DU TEXAS
Grand Chef de Gare Passe
David J Knutson
Central Texas Area Veterans Advisory Committee
Coryell County Voiture Locale 266
Jewish War Veterans
Fort Cavazos Post 795
G
PLATINUM SUPPORTERS OF THE GRANDE VOITURE DU TEXAS
DOUBLE PLATINUM SUPPORTERSOF THE GRANDE VOITURE DU TEXAS
AMERICAN LEGION
TRAVIS POST 76
AMERICAN LEGION
KNEBEL POST 83
Grand Chefs de Gare Passe
1997 Robert “Bob” Nagle V-1031
2001 Jerry Brady V-1185
2005 James R. Overturf V-1031
2009 Milton R. Chatham V-312
2012 Daniel J. Thompson V-1055
2013 Lowell J. Mix V-542
2014 David J Knutson V-175
2015 David J Knutson V-175
2016 Joseph T. McCullough V-542
2017 Joseph T. McCullough V-542
2019 Renslar Keagle V-605
2020 Renslar Keagle V-605
2021 John Rodgers V-1031
2022 Roger Folmar V-605
2023 Roger Folmar V-605
DOUBLE PLATINUM SUPPORTERSOF THE GRANDE VOITURE DU TEXAS
SPECIAL THANKS TO French Gratitude Train Collection, Texas Merci Boxcar AND The Texas Capitol Visitors Center 112 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Merci Texas: A Story of Generosity and Gratitude For their extended exhibit of gifts from the Texas Merci Boxcar
OUR 1920 FOUNDERS WERE VETERANS OF W.W.I. FRANCE.
Our organization’s formal title is La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux or the Society of Forty Men and Eight Horses.
During the First World War, French boxcars carried American Doughboys to the front. These wartime boxcars, which held either 40 men or 8 horses, were emblazoned with “40/8”; a symbol readily understood by American veterans of that era. Today our organization’s titles are in French and we meet in symbolic W.W.I. train depots, in grateful homage to the sacrifices of our Doughboy founders and indeed to honor all Americans who yet serve. -- We are most commonly known as “La Societe” or simply “The Forty & Eight”.