{"id":19855,"date":"2017-02-02T19:57:23","date_gmt":"2017-02-02T19:57:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.francaisdeletranger.org\/en\/?p=19855"},"modified":"2020-01-06T17:48:35","modified_gmt":"2020-01-06T17:48:35","slug":"mdfdeusa-all-aboard-the-merci-train-1947-2019-here-comes-the-magellan-new-york-city-mdfdefriendshipmercitrain70","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.francaisdeletranger.org\/en\/2017\/02\/02\/mdfdeusa-all-aboard-the-merci-train-1947-2019-here-comes-the-magellan-new-york-city-mdfdefriendshipmercitrain70\/","title":{"rendered":"MDFDE\/USA: All Aboard the Friendship & Merci Trains! (1947-2019): Here comes the MAGELLAN, New York City! #MDFDEFriendshipMerciTrain70"},"content":{"rendered":"
OTD: New York City, February 2, 1949: “Magellan” passing the “Statue of Liberty.” UIM – Marine <\/em>http:\/\/uim.marine.free.fr\/hisnav\/archives\/navires_uim\/op-com\/magellan-train.htm<\/a><\/address>\n
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#GRATI<\/span>TUDE<\/span><\/h1>\n

#RESIS<\/span>TANCE<\/span><\/h1>\n

#MDFDE<\/span>Friendship<\/span>MerciTrain<\/span>70<\/span><\/h1>\n

\u00a9 The Official French-American Project entirely conceived by Ms. Elisabeth JENSSEN to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Friendship Train and the Merci Train (2017- 2019). All rights reserved.<\/p>\n

Chair,<\/strong> Elisabeth Jenssen Co-Chair,<\/strong> Tyler Abell<\/p>\n

Honorary President:<\/strong> The Comte Gilbert de Pusy La Fayette<\/p>\n

Contact:<\/strong> elisabeth.jenssen@francaisdeletranger.org<\/a><\/p>\n

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Latest<\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear members of the MDFDE, dear Internet friends,<\/h2>\n

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In the face of uncertainty, of adversity making most of us, right now, really worried about the future, especially during the next four years, I hope you are all doing as well as possible.<\/p>\n

Moving forward… And just because HISTORY has a really strange way of repeating itself if we don’t pay CLOSE attention… Just because, in the name of the Marquis de LA FAYETTE and the STATUE OF LIBERTY, FRANCE and the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA are and shall remain oldest allies (1778- )…<\/p>\n

In the name of our\u00a0illustrious FRENCH-AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP and SOLIDARITY, the MDFDE is very proud to launch its newest project, #MDFDEFriendshipMerciTrain70<\/strong>, a unique initiative whose mission is the celebration, in 2019, of the MERCI TRAIN’s 70th Anniversary.<\/p>\n

So come on, “All Aboard” everyone! No reason to be intimidated! Join us! Let’s all work and learn together about the fascinating story of the FRIENDSHIP TRAIN (1947), loaded with the much-needed food, medicine and supplies, that arrived in France on December 18, 1947 (see our first post “American Friendship Train”<\/em> below). An American idea<\/strong> which was developed by\u00a0the legendary journalist Drew PEARSON<\/strong>, largely responsible for raising over 40 million dollars in aid for war-torn Europe after WWII.\u00a0 And the MERCI TRAIN (1949), a French idea<\/strong> developed by Andr\u00e9 PICARD<\/strong>, a French World War II veteran and railroad worker from the SNCF, carrying donations from over six million citizens of France and Italy in the form of dolls, statues, clothes, ornamental objects, furniture, and even a walking cane to have belonged to the Marquis de La Fayette…
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Looking forward to hearing from each one of you wishing to participate, I hope, very soon…<\/p>\n

Faithfully yours,<\/p>\n

Elisabeth Jenssen<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chair, #MDFDEFriendshipMerciTrain70<\/strong><\/p>\n

contact@francaisdeletranger.org<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.francaisdeletranger.org\/en\/2016\/12\/20\/mdfdeusa-all-aboard-the-american-friendship-train-1947-2017-kudos-to-the-late-drew-pearson-mdfdejesuisladyliberty130-131-mdfdefriendshiptrainmercitrain70\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Merci<\/a> \"Merci<\/a><\/p>\n

Magellan arriving in New York \/ New Jersey<\/h3>\n

One of the few color photos. Shows “Magellan” as it enters New York harbour. Life Magazine – February 28, 1949. Unknown whether the French flag has been “super-imposed” or in fact the photo was taken from another French ship.<\/p>\n

\"Merci<\/a><\/p>\n

A copy of a 1949 LIFE magazine with photos of the Magellan<\/em>‘s arrival in New York on Feb. 2nd, 1949 carrying the “Merci Train”<\/em> boxcars. http:\/\/mercitrain.org\/HistoricPhotos\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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A gala parade is held in New York in which people welcome a gift train which has… HD Stock Footage<\/h2>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=drRVCcDRnS8&index=5&list=PLeKm1Y6TQqNjWTW0j7x0edWTT58hzHyMT<\/a><\/p>\n

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USA: The Merci Train: “Magellan” arrives in New York – New Jersey<\/h1>\n
Updated : April 25, 2015<\/address>\n

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The French freighter “Magellan” ( homeport: La Rochelle ) arrived on February 2, 1949 to the east coast of the USA about 3 days ahead of schedule having left Le Havre on January 14, 1949.<\/p>\n

The early arrival was very unfortunate because all the French dignitaries, who were supposed to attend the arrival of “Magellan” with the “Merci Train” boxcars, were on board another ship; the passenger liner “De Grasse” operated by the “Compagnie G\u00e9n\u00e9rale Transatlantique”; in the USA known as the “French Line”.<\/p>\n

The “De Grasse” was owned by the “C.G.T” the “Compagnie G\u00e9n\u00e9rale Transatlantique”, in the USA known as the “French Line”<\/p>\n

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More about the “De Grasse : http:\/\/www.norwayheritage.com\/p_shiplist.asp?co=cgtfl<\/a><\/address>\n
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By the time “Magellan” had arrived, the “De Grasse” was still out in the Atlantic.<\/p>\n

The captain (Commandant) of “Magellan” on that trip was ; Captain Georges Icart<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Once arrived “Magellan” received a spectacular welcome. On the sides of “Magellan” was written in huge capital letters “MERCI AMERICA” – “Thank you America”.<\/p>\n

“Magellan” sailed from the Atlantic into the “Lower Bay” up to the “Upper Bay” picking up a welcome committee at the “quarantine point” which presumably was near “Swinbourne Island” or “Hoffmann Island” in the “Lower Bay”. These islands were normally used for quarantine purposes at that time.<\/p>\n

The welcome committee included :<\/p>\n