On Saturday, a veterans walk through Farmers Market Ogden from Washington Boulevard to Ogden Union Station was organized by American Legion Baker-Merrill Post 9. The walk culminated in attending a ceremony to formally welcome the Merci Car back to Union Station after a two-year restoration of the boxcar in Wyoming.

Sara Garcia, 2nd vice commander with the American Legion Baker-Merrill Post 9 and one of the main organizers of Saturday’s Veteran Patriotic Walk, told the Standard-Examiner that the walk attracted more than 100 veterans and present-day service members from across the state — regardless of whether they were member of the Legion post or not — and their family members. The walk began around noon and, led by a bagpiper, snaked its way southward through the crowded farmers market on Historic 25th Street Crowds gathered to watch, applaud and thank the veterans as they passed by. Members of the walk even called out to veterans and service members in the crowd, inviting them to join and several did so during the three-block walk.

“It was spectacular,” Garcia said. “We were so overcome with the gracious, ‘Thank you for your service,’ touching their heart all the way through it. It was wonderful. It’s great to see so many patriotic people. … I was happy with how the crowd received us. It just feels good to be appreciated and loved.”

She said the walk couldn’t have come at a better time.

Rob Nielsen, Standard-Examiner

“Everybody feels so good,” she said. “A lot of veterans needed this. I had a veteran call me — he was a Vietnam veteran — and he said, ‘Do you have a Vietnam flag?’ And I said, ‘No, I don’t, but I can locate one for you.’ And he said, ‘I would really appreciate that. I want people to know where I served.'”

Garcia said a flag was ultimately ordered.

She said that there’s a possibility the community will see another similar veterans walk become an annual event.

“I spoke to a city official and I said, ‘This would be a great thing if we could do something for Veterans Day every year,’ and I suggested a veteran parade,” she said.

In the meantime, as the walk reached Ogden Union Station, the day was only getting under way. They gathered at the display of the newly restored Utah Merci Car on the south side of Union Station and were briefed on the history of the boxcar and its many purposes over the last century and a half, from hauling men and horses during both World Wars to bringing gifts of national gratitude to Utahans as part of the Merci Train in 1949. While most of the gifts ended up distributed to private hands, several artifacts have been retained by the Utah State Archives and Records Service and were on display in the Union Station lobby Saturday to mark the occasion.

Rob Nielsen, Standard-Examiner

Garcia said the veterans taking part in the walk were greatly anticipating being part of the ceremony as well.

“They’ve been hearing about it and I’m sure a lot of people saw it after it was placed a couple of weeks ago,” she said. “They’re excited to hear about the history. There were a lot of people taking pictures in front of it. This is a good way to end the day.”

The rededication ceremony itself was held in the Browning Theater at Ogden Union Station.

The ceremony started off with an address from Judy Lewis whose late husband Byron Lewis had been instrumental in bringing the Utah Merci Car to Ogden Union Station and performing one of its last major overhauls over 20 years ago.

“Because of the hardship that the people of France had during World War II, the United States shipped boxcars full of food, clothing, household items that each state donated, and that train was called the Friendship Train from the states,” Judy said, sharing some of the car’s history. “To show their appreciation, 49 boxcars were sent to America full of handcrafted gifts as a thank you. Our boxcar arrived in Utah on February 22, 1949. The boxcar was then taken by rail around the state to share with the different communities what France had given to Utah.”

Rob Nielsen, Standard-Examiner

After being displayed in Fillmore and then Salt Lake City, the car was moved to Ogden in 2002 and restored before being put on display on the northeast side of Union Station in 2006. However, the boxcar was left uncovered and deteriorated in the elements.

However, Judy Lewis said she’s happy to see things going in a more positive direction.

“It is great to see the beginning of a more positive future,” she said. “I know Byron is here today and is thrilled also to see his Merci Boxcar returned. When you talked to Byron when he was still living, his boxcar was his boxcar — He would always say, ‘This is my Boxcar.’ But also it has given me the opportunity to reflect on the importance of preserving the past. I want to give special thanks today for Ogden City and Union Station and others for seeing that the Merci Boxcar got restored. It fills my heart full of pride and — again — many, many memories. A special thanks to the officers and members of the American Legion Post 9 in Ogden for continuing to see that Byron’s goal to preserve the history of the Merci Boxcar was accomplished.”

Hope Eggett, museum administrator for the Museums at Union Station read a statement from Michael Pannell, owner of Vintage Rail Restorations which carried out the restoration of the Merci Car over he last couple of years. Pannell was unable to attend Saturday’s ceremony.

“It was an absolute honor to work on such a historic car, and I would never have dreamt that I would have been able to do so when I arrived in the U.S. in 2006,” his statement said. “I hope it brings enjoyment and tells us hugely important stories for years to come.”

Rob Nielsen, Standard-Examiner

Eggett also relayed a message from Honorary French Consul Anne Lair, who was in France Saturday.

“As we celebrate both America’s 250th anniversary and the return of the Merci Car to Ogden Union Station, let us continue to cherish and strengthen the friendship between our two countries,” she said. “France and the United States are the oldest allies, united by a shared history and common values that continue to inspire future generations.”

It was noted during the ceremony that there is one living veteran who rode in a 40 & 8 boxcar — the name given to the boxcars used in the Merci Train because they were meant to haul either 40 soldiers or eight horses — during wartime: Casey Kunimara, 101, of Ogden. Kunimara had been invited to participate in Saturday’s ceremony but was unable to due to illness.

Former American Legion Department Commander Bob Jones took time to recognize Casey during his speech.

“Utah has one remaining living veteran who rode in one of those boxcars — that is Casey Kunimara, who now resides in the George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home on 12th Street,” Jones said. “Casey has been my mentor for an awful lot of years.”

Rob Nielsen, Standard-Examiner

Emeritus of the Utah Department of Veterans Affairs Terry Schow expanded upon Kunimara’s story.

“I have been working for several years to have Casey receive the French Legion of Honor,” Schow said. “It is the highest award the French government does. We’re working on that, and I will ask the mayor to help us with that great endeavor. Casey was an infantryman in World War II. His family was in an internment camp in California while he was fighting for his country  — for his country with the legendary 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the most decorated unit in all of World War II.”

Ogden Mayor Ben Nadolski said that Saturday was a chance to think deeply about the country and its 250th birthday.

“I think that the point and purpose of this celebration of 250 years is to force us to think introspectively, for us to reflect,” he said. “And I hope all of you have had that opportunity. I have no doubt you have.”

He said that he’s had a couple of reflections during the celebration of America250.

Rob Nielsen, Standard-Examiner

“We as a nation have a lot to be thankful for, and I hear so much too often –especially through the Internet — that there’s things that we shouldn’t be proud of,” he said. “And I want to push back on that, because I think that the Internet creates a narrative that isn’t true. I think that’s part of the point, the purpose of it. And I know that to be true, because I experience a completely different reality when I am among you, when I am among others, especially when we are among one another in service for each other.”

Nadolski also noted the moment.

“Today is a moment in history,” he said. “What will history say about us?”

He said this moment in history is about preserving a piece of local and world history.

“Today we celebrate the restoration of an important historic artifact,” he said.  It’s an artifact and an asset that tells a long story — the story of our world. It also tells a story of us right now. That mercy card has been through a lot.”

Rob Nielsen, Standard-Examiner

Nadolski said from despite its history of warfare, heavy use, neglect and restoration, the Merci Car has persevered and continues to persevere because of the people of Ogden.

“That Merci Car is beautiful today,” he said. “It is out there shining and meaning everything that we are proud of, and that’s because of us. Not me. Not the city — because of us. You. We. Ogden. Ogden, USA, United States of America, we have so much to be proud of and so much to be grateful for as a nation and as a city.”

In the near-term, a canopy is set to be constructed over the Utah Merci Car in its new display area with completion expected this fall. Long-term goals include building a building that will house the Merci Car and most or all of the collection within the Spencer S. and Hope F. Eccles Rail Center.