At noon, a Veteran Patriotic Walk organized by the American Legion Baker-Merrill Post 9 and featuring veterans from across Utah will proceed down Historic 25th Street from Washington Boulevard to Ogden Union Station. Following their arrival, a ceremony will welcome the Merci Car — which recently returned to the Utah State Railroad Museum at the Museums at Union Station last week following a two-year renovation in Wyoming — back to its Ogden home.

Sara Garcia, 2nd vice commander with the American Legion Baker-Merrill Post 9, told the Standard-Examiner the veteran’s walk is a way of making sure the state’s veterans are recognized this Fourth of July.

“We want veterans to be represented on the Fourth of July celebrating the birthday of our great nation,” she said. “We’re hoping for 250 veterans for the 250th birthday, but we will take as many as are willing to walk with us shoulder-to-shoulder.”

She said the idea originally grew out of a suggestion for American Legion posts across the country to find their own creative ways to celebrate America250.

“This was actually a recommendation by our national commander — he urged all American Legion posts to plan something special for the 250th birthday of our nation,” she said. “We all put our heads together. First we thought, ‘Let’s do a march,’ and we thought about different things. Then we thought about the age of a lot of veterans, and we want every veteran to participate, so we thought a walk would be the best thing.”

Sign-in for the walk begins at 10:30 a.m. on July 4 in the Ogden Municipal Gardens at 343 25th Street. Garcia said there is no requirement to pre-register and sign-ins are a way to count the number of veterans participating. A commemorative challenge coin will be presented to the first 300 who sign up. The walk is open to all Utah veterans and there is no requirement that the veterans be a member of the American Legion Baker-Merrill Post 9 or any other organization. The walk will begin at noon and proceed down Historic 25th Street from Washington Boulevard to Ogden Union Station. Assistance is available for disabled veterans. Farmers Market Ogden will be happening simultaneously. Bottled water and music will be available at Union Station.

Garcia said Union Station was chosen as the end point for an important reason — they will also be participating in the rededication of the Merci Car in its new display location.

“We tied this in with the Merci Car, because if we start the walk on Washington Boulevard, that’s only three blocks to Union Station, and then we can attend the celebration of the return of the Merci Car, and I understand that is going to be held inside Union Station due to the hot weather,” she said. “We were just very fortunate it all worked out and we could do both together. It’s going to be a perfect day.”

Hope Eggett, museum administrator for the Museums at Union Station, told the Standard-Examiner that a welcome reception will be held from noon-2 p.m. as part of welcoming back the Merci Car.

“I’m hoping that everyone will be able to come and appreciate the beautiful work that’s been done on our restoration, celebrate with the car and take in the moment,” she said.

Then, at 2 p.m., a formal ceremony will be held inside Union Station featuring speakers who will discuss the importance of the Merci Car. Both the reception and the welcome ceremony are open to everyone.

“This is going to be a great time to reflect on what the Merci Car means and celebrate this moment,” she said. “It was only two years ago we did the Merci Car 75th anniversary celebration right before it went off for restoration. We’re glad to be able to have it back and to be able to recognize all of the work that’s been going into this place as well as to continue to honor its significance to the community, both the veterans that remember the importance of the 40-and-8 cars and all of the community spirit that went into the Friendship Train and the Merci Train in return.”

When the Merci Train was sent to the United States in 1949, each car was filled with gifts from France to be distributed to communities across each state. During the welcome ceremony and reception, several items from Utah’s Merci Car will be on display at Ogden Union Station for the public to see.

“The State Archives and Records Service is bringing up the original gifts that they have from the Merci Car,” Eggett said. “Originally our Utah Merci Car would’ve been full of all kinds of gifts — everything from artwork to a wedding dress. Most of those were distributed out to members of the community, but a few of them were presented to the governor, so they’ve remained in the custody of the State Archives and Record Services. On the Fourth, they will be up and on display during the reception so that people can come, interact with them and really appreciate all of the symbolism and work that went into the French people saying, ‘Thank you,’ to us.”

Utah’s Merci Car had been displayed on the northeast side of Union Station in 2006, but it fell into disrepair after being left out in the elements. In its new display space by the Spencer S. and Hope F. Eccles Rail Center, a canopy is set to be installed over the boxcar in the coming months.

Garcia said these dual events are a way of showing what kind of community Ogden is.

“I just want Ogden to be aware of how many veterans and I want them to recognize how patriotic we are,” she said.

For more on the veteran’s walk, visit the American Legion Baker-Merrill Post 9 Faceboook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/618878664958262/