2024 Spring Cheminot Program Book

Grande Voiture du Texas Spring Cheminot Austin, Texas March 21-24, 2024

AGENDA 75

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ANNIVERSARY OF THE MERCI BOXCAR AND 2024 SPRING CHEMINOT MARCH 21-22-23-24, 2024

ALL ROOMS AND EVENTS ARE NON-SMOKING

THURSDAY 6:00 PM – 10:00 pm

March 21st Early Bird Roll Call American Legion Knebel Post 83

FRIDAY 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM

March 22nd Registration Open (Guadalupe / Barton Creek)

8:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Hospitality Room Open (Guadalupe / Barton Creek)

11:00 AM

Shuttle departs for Camp Mabry and Capitol Visitor Center Events

12:00 PM

75th Anniversary Ceremony at Camp Mabry

1:15 PM

Shuttle departs for Capitol Visitor Center

2:00 PM

Grand Opening of Boxcar Artifact Exhibit

3:15 PM

Shuttle departs Capitol Visitor Center

4:00 PM

Estimated arrival back at hotel

4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Hospitality Room Open (Guadalupe / Barton Creek)

6:00 PM

Social Hour (Ladybird Lake Ballroom)

7:00 PM

Friday Night Dinner at the Hotel (Ladybird Lake Ballroom)

9:30 PM to 11:00 PM

Hospitality Room Open (Guadalupe / Barton Creek)

AGENDA 75

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ANNIVERSARY OF THE MERCI BOXCAR AND 2024 SPRING CHEMINOT MARCH 21-22-23-24, 2024

ALL ROOMS AND EVENTS ARE NON-SMOKING

SATURDAY

March 23rd

8:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Registration Open

8:00 AM to 12:45 PM

Hospitality Room Open (Guadalupe / Barton Creek)

9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Grand Committee Meetings Finance Committee Nurses Training Committee Time and Place Committee Others as Deemed Necessary (Executive Learning Center)

1:00 PM

Grand Cheminot (Executive Learning Center)

AFTER CHEMINOT HOSPITALITY ROOM REOPENS UNTIL 5:30 PM

SATURDAY DINNER IS AT AMERICAN LEGION KNEBEL POST 83 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Social Hour (Knebel Post 83)

7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Dinner (Knebel Post 83)

(DRESS FOR DINNER IS BUSINESS CAUSAL WITH CHAPEAU) HOSPITALITY ROOM REOPENS AFTER DINNER / ABOUT 9:30 PM

9:30 PM to 11:00 PM

Hospitality Room Open (Guadalupe / Barton Creek)

SUNDAY 9:00 AM

March 24th Merci Box Car Pilgrimage at Camp Mabry Memorial Service Grand Aumonier Photo at Boxcar Memorial Over

WISHING THE VOYAGEURS & DAMES A GREAT SPRING CHEMINOT

FRANK CAMPO CHEF DE CHEMIN DE FER 2024

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TEXAS MERCI BOXCAR

Keith Reiss Jr Grand Chef de Gare Welcome to the 2024 Spring Cheminot and 75th Anniversary of the Gratitude Train

WELCOME TO EVERYONE FOR THE 75 T H ANNIVERSARY OF THE MERCI TRAIN AND TEXAS MERCI BOXCAR

GERALD “JERRY” BRADY CHEF DE CHEMIN DE FER 2010

Jerry & Karen brady Voiture 1055 & cabane 1055

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN KERRVILLE, TEXAS FOR CENTRAL STATES PROMENADE APRIL 18-21, 2024

Welcome to the 2024 Spring Cheminot And 75th Anniversary of the Gratitude Train and Texas Merci Boxcar

John Rodgers Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer

John Rodgers for Chef de Chemin de Fer

Cabane 1031 Wishes to Welcome Everyone To the 2024 Spring Cheminot And 75th Anniversary of the Gratitude Train & Texas Merci Boxcar

Kathy E. Wheeler La Presidente

Sue Gibbs Correspondante

Please have a safe trip home and keep our soldiers in your prayers.

La Societe des Quarant Hommes et Huit Chevaux Bell County Voiture 1031

Thank You to Voiture 175 for hosting the 2024 Spring Cheminot and 75th Anniversary of the Gratitude Train Chef de Gare – Jim Sweeney Chef de Train – Mike Tiberia Correspondant – Sandy Kousman Conducteur – Gene McPhee Avocat - John Rogers Guard de la Porte – Rolando Salinas Aumonier & Drapeau – Toby Zielinski Lampiste – Alberto “Danny” Geronimo Cheminot & Historien – Sandy Kousman

Welcome to Austin for The Spring Cheminot And 75th Anniversary of The Merci Boxcar Travis County Voiture 175 Austin, Texas

Chef de Gare – Al Banzer Commissaire Intendant - Charlie Hawkins Correspondant – David Knutson Drapeau - Deborah Knutson

Chef de Train - Larry Bartes Conducteur - Les Lobdell Aumonier - Alan Denman Avocat - Jim Liles

Special Thanks to Charlie & Rosemarie Hawkins for their Many years of dedicated service to La Societe!

WISHING EVERYONE HAS A GREAT TIME AT THE SPRING CHEMINOT AND 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TEXAS MERCI BOXCAR CELEBRATION

GRAND CHEF DE TRAIN JIM SWEENEY

Ronnie Wheeler

Daryl Gibbs Sr.

George Murphy

IN

Loving Memory Your LIFE WAS A Blessing Your MEMORY A Treasure Your LOVED BEYOND Words And MISSED BEYOND Measure Gabe Cina Dedicated to a few of the many friends and very special people of the Grande Voiture du Texas.

Rest in Peace my friends David J. Knutson Grand Chef de Gare Passe

Miriam and Lanny Givens

FORT CAVAZOS POST 795 KILLEEN, TEXAS

GREETINGS FROM VOITURE LOCALE 266 COPPERAS COVE

Happy 75 anniversary to the merci train and our Texas merci boxcar th

Voiture Locale 542 San Antonio, Texas

*REMEMBER THE ALAMO*

Welcomes all Voyageurs, Dames and Guests to The 2024 Spring Cheminot in Austin, Texas WORK HARD, PRAY SINCERELY, ACHIEVE ALL ESTABLISHED GOALS AND HAVE FUN!

Chef de Gare – J. Sean Habina Correspondant – Frank Arechiga

Welcome Voyagers & Dames!

James Overstreet Commander Post 83

Michael Krause Commander Squadron 83

For God and Country

Christy Boretsky President Unit 83

best wishes from American Legion Travis Post 76, Austin, Texas for a great for the spring cheminot and Texas merci boxcar 75th anniversary celebration

Special Guest Friday Liz Wiley Honorary Consul of France for Austin

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.

BOOSTERS Keith Reiss Jr David Knutson Deborah Knutson Al Banzer Felicia Banzer Charlie Hawkins Rose Marie Hawkins Michael Krause James Overstreet Frank Flores

Voiture 266 Voiture 175 Voiture 175 Voiture 175 Voiture 175 Voiture 175 Cabane 1031 SAL Squadron 83 Knebel Post 83 Voiture 175

Kathy Wheeler Sue Gibbs Annemarie Murphy Mary McAnally Jim Sweeney Mike Tiberia Alan Denman Jim Liles Les Lobdell Lynn Lobdell

Cabane 1031 Cabane 1031 Cabane 1031 Cabane 1031 Voiture 1031 Voiture 1031 Voiture 175 Voiture 175 Voiture 175 Voiture 175

Special Guest Saturday Frank Campo was born on December 16, 1965, in Springfield, IL where he grew up and attended school. Upon graduating he joined the US Army as a combat engineer in 1983. Frank is married to the former Jodie Cruthis on December 14, 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 has been stationed at several military bases in the Continental United States, with assignments at the United States Army Engineer School, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; United States Army Armor Center and School, Fort Knox, Kentucky; United States Army National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California; and the Department of Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute.

Additionally, Frank has been assigned to United States Army Europe, where he completed a three-year assignment in Bavaria Germany during the Cold War. While assigned to the VII Corps of the United States Army, he attended the 3rd Infantry Division Non-Commissioned Officers Academy. Frank was assigned to the United States Army Jungle Operations Training Center, Fort Sherman Panama, the spring of 1990. That fall, he was assigned to the plans and operations section of the XVIII Airborne Corps in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm.

Upon leaving active duty, Frank began a career with the United States Department of Justice as a federal law enforcement officer in 1991 retirin g in 2004. From 2005-2009, Frank was employed by the County of San Bernardino School District as a public safety officer and later teacher. He began his career with the State of California in 2009. Frank retired in 2021 as the state veteran’s representative for the Employment Development Department and was employed as the Local Veterans Employment Representative.

Frank was highly active in the Santa Maria and Lompoc communities. He served as Public Safety Commissioner for the City of Lompoc; and represented Santa Barbara County 4th Supervisory District as Commissioner for the Veterans Services Advisory Commission. He was the President for the Santa Barbara Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.

He was the Junior Vice Commander for the William T Sherman Post #28, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War in Santa Barbara. He served on the Board of Directors for: the Good Samaritan Shelter; Valley Haven Adult Day Program; Boys Scouts of America; the Committee to Improve North County; Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee; Lompoc Valley Medical Center PFAC; Lompoc Rotary Club; the Lompoc YMCA; and the Allan Hancock College Foundation. Frank was appointed by the President to the Selective Service System Local Board for Santa Barbara County and re-appointed to represent the State of Illinois.

Frank is a member of the Fremont Voiture 1179 and was wrecked in June 2009. He was the Chef de Gare from 20112016 and held the position of Garde de la Porte; Nurses Training Director; Voiture Activities; POW/MIA Director. Frank was elected as Grand Cheminot of the 4th District for 2011-12. Frank also belongs to the General’s Club; Boxcar Association; and the Chef de Gare Passe club. He was Chef de Gare for the Grand du California in 2016. Frank was 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.

Frank is currently a member of Post 32, American Legion in Springfield, IL. He is a past member of Corporal Marshall N Braden, American Legion Post 56 in Santa Maria, California from 2001-2022. From 2010-2014 he served as the Commander for the Post. Frank served as District Commander from 2019-2021. Frank is a member of the Past Commanders Club and was Past President of Outpost 16.

Additionally, he was Commander of DAV Chapter 91 in Lompoc, California and has served as the Service Officer and Legislative Aide for the chapter; and is a current member of National Order of Trench Rats, Dugout 460; 75th Ranger Regiment Association; Army Engineer Association; Association of the United States Army; Air Force Association; Patriot Guard Riders; Frank also belongs to the following public safety associations: Fraternal Order of Police, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association; Emerald Society of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies; California Gang Investigators Association.

In 2013, he was awarded “California Voyageur of the Year” from the 40&8; 2014 “Legionnaire of the Year” for the tricounties from the American Legion; 2015 “Citizen of the Year” for Elks Lodge 2274; 2016 recipient of the “Paul Bunyan Gavel”. He is a Paul Harris Fellow from Rotary International as well as a George Washington Fellow from the Sons of the American Revolution.

RITUAL OF CELEBRATION FOR THE BIRTHDAY OF LA SOCIETE DE QUARANTE HOMES ET HUIT CHEVAUX March 15, 1920 In March of 1920, Joseph W. Breen, a member of the newly formed American Legion and an officer of Breen‐McCracken Legion Post 297, met in Philadelphia with fifteen other prominent Legionnaires where they originated the idea of The Forty & Eight. They envisioned a new and different level of elite membership and camaraderie for leaders of the American Legion. The box car of the French Railways, so familiar to American ground troops of the First World War, was chosen as the symbolic heart of the new organization. The French/Railroad theme was applied to officer titles and organizational functions.

During the last 100 years La Societe has endeavored to seek out and satisfy the needs of our nations Veterans, Local Communities and the nation’s children.

For example, in 1932 The Forty & Eight declared War on Childhood Diphtheria. Vaccination toxin was distributed via Voiture Nationale to children whose parents could not afford it. Physicians donated their services, and educational campaigns were carried out to combat the disease. From 1932 through 1936, the Forty & Eight sought to influence Congress regarding veteran's benefits.

These were the “Bonus March” Depression years when WWI veterans and the federal government were at times in open conflict. The Forty & Eight sponsored national radio programs, featuring well know political figures, to bring equitable treatment of war veterans to the national forefront.

Realizing that power came with numbers, the Forty & Eight brought in 111,159 new American Legion members. The efforts of the Forty & Eight ultimately helped convince Congress to pass, over a presidential veto, the compensation act for America’s war veterans.

These endeavors only scratch the surface of the many accomplishments of the 40&8. In your program leaflet you will find a more complete history. As you read it you will understand the pride each Voyageur Militaire takes in having been invited into the ranks of La Societe de Quarante Homes et Huit Chevaux.

Therefore, let us celebrate these accomplishments and the birthday of La Societe de Quarante Homes et Huit Chevaux in the true spirit of “The fun and honor Society of American Veterans”.

Aumonier please bless this assembly with an opening prayer.”