The French Gratitude (Merci) Train carried more than 3,200 gifts from the people of France in appreciation of American generosity in the postwar years. This boxcar was moved to the park from the Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum north of Phoenix by the 259th Engineering Company of the Arizona National Guard. It arrived in need to total refurbishment, but was welcomed at a public ceremony on Saturday, November 7th, 1987 at the park where Mayor Herb Drinkwater, French consul Claude Prosnier, Arizona National Guard Commander Major General Donald L. Owens and chief champion and fundraiser for the restoration Zina Kuhn each spoke.
In addition, after years of fundraising and getting help with restoration, community volunteer Zina Kuhn was proud to have the French Gratitude/Merci Train car dedicated at McCormick Railroad Park on Veteran’s Day, Saturday November 11, 1989. French Consul-General Gerard Coste was an honored guest at the dedication ceremony. In conjunction with the dedication of the French Gratitude Boxcar, Zina Kuhn started an annual City of Scottsdale tradition – hosting a Veteran’s Day Ceremony in front of the historic boxcar, where veterans, residents, students, as well as local government officials gather to pay tribute to Scottsdale’s veterans, past and present.
Zina Kuhn passed away August 15, 2005 at the age of ninety-one.
In 1989, the Scottsdale North Rotary Club donated $3,000 for a ramada to shelter the Gratitude Train Car at the park. The City matched the club’s donation. Club members also donated labor to build the ramada.
DATE: November 11, 1949