France in Dec.1948, I was in New York at the time of the Merci Train
arrival in February of 1949. When the city of New York decided to have
a parade to welcome and receive the NY boxcar, I was "volunteered" by
the local Alsatian organization to be in the parade with my French
costume. I don't remember much about the parade. I think I was mostly
in the celebration at City Hall Plaza where the picture was taken. The
boy that was with me was the son of friends of the family and did not
speak French. His mother may have been French. I'm so intrigued by
the story and what has happened to all the aritcles in the box cars. It
was a pleasure to find your website. I do have some memories of the
American GIs liberating our village from the Germans and of learning my
first English words , "Chocolate" and "Chewing gum", which those GIs
were generously sharing with us children. The GIs would often take my
picture when I was in my same reginal costume I wore at the parade, and
which I was proud wear. I also remember being on the ship that brougtht
us to America in 1948, and how awe struck I was at all the food they
served in the dining room; I had never seen so much food. I don't
specifically remember the Friendship Train food being delivered in the
Alsace region of France where we lived in 1947, but my parents
remembered getting food from the soldiers, and were grateful to the
Americans.
I live in Vermont now and am very pleased to find your website about this
history that I lived through, and also pleased to see that the Vermont
boxcar still exists; I plan to go see it at some point.
Thank You, Merci,
Brigitte Kibler Helzer
