By Phil Drake, Independent Record
A rededication and 75th anniversary observance of Montana’s Merci Car, a gift from the people of France to the state after World War II, as held Friday at the Montana Military Museum at Fort William Henry Harrison.
Among those attending was Tieren Bussell, 18, a Capital High School senior who, along with dad Stephen and about two dozen volunteers, renovated the foundation of the area where the rail car sits. Bussell, a member of Boy Scout Troop 214, estimated about 130 hours into the project by his crew. Approval of his Eagle project is pending.
Bussell, whose hobby as a World War I reenactor stokes his interest in history, approached American Legion Lewis and Clark Post No. 2 to ask about a project and they suggested the Merci Car, his dad said.
Tieren and Stephen Bussell said they removed grass, put in brick around the base of the rail car, replaced damaged brick, power-washed bird poop off the car and did general cleanup. Ray Read, director of the military museum, noted they also made an “MT” for Montana with decorative brick. Tieren estimated less than $1,000 was spent on materials.
“I think it was pretty amazing,” Stephen Bussell said of his son’s project. “Just looking at the before and after pictures, it cleaned it up a lot.”
Tieren cut the rededication ribbon in a ceremony attended by members of the Oro Fino Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, American Legion and Montana National Guard.
Read appreciated the work as well.
“It’s fantastic,” he said.
The Merci Car was a gift from the people of France in 1949, after having received aid from a grassroots effort by Americans to provide them with much-needed items after World War II. They sent 49 box cars filled with presents to the United States.
Montana’s box car was presented to the people of Montana on Feb. 16, 1949, at a ceremony in the state Capitol in front of a joint session of the Legislature and presented to Gov. John Bonner by Paul Lenier, French vice-counsel.
It was eventually moved to the military museum.