One Of The Remaining Merci Trains Is Right Here In Mississippi
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published July 10, 2020
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for more than 30 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as the Mississippi-based Parents & Kids Magazine. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
The story of the Merci Train, which was a gift from France to the U.S., has got to be one of the most heartwarming in history. But it’s not completely in the past. A boxcar from the Merci Train is on display here in Mississippi, and you can visit. Read on to learn all about this interesting piece of the past.
Near the former GM&O depot in Jackson, you’ll find one of the Merci Train boxcars, which were sent to the U.S. by France in 1949.
Hoping to assist with war recovery overseas, Pearson proposed that Americans donate enough food to fill 80 train cars and then ship it to France and Italy.
Upon its arrival, the items in the boxcar were unloaded and put on display for residents to view. Eventually, the items were divided among various organizations within the state.
