The "GRATITUDE TRAIN" consisted
of forty-nine boxcars, one for each for the forty-eight states, and one
for the District of Columbia to be shared with the district of Hawaii.
Each car contained gifts, artwork, and treasured items from the people
of France. The Kansas boxcar first arrived in Topeka in June 1949 and
visited 120 communities before its last stop in Hays on November 11,
1949. A huge community celebration, parade and acceptance ceremony was
held in Hays on that Veterans Day.