/
The Freedom Train Is Coming
Containing
коше
of the most valuable anil
precious of all historic documents, tlie
train will make five stops in North Caro¬
lina during tlie course of its tour through
tlie 18 states.
MANY thousands of North
Carolinians are planning to
see “The Freedom Train"
when it comes to this state early
next month. Nation-wide interest
has been manifested in the unique
project, the purpose of which is to
make our people appreciate more
wholeheartedly the freedom and
liberty they enjoy.
What is the Freedom Train? Whc
conceived the idea and why was it
planned? What cities in North
Carolina will receive a visit?
These and other questions are
being asked in connection with the
movement of the train across the
country. Some of this information
has been given in the newspapers,
but perhaps you are not acquainted
with all of the details, so we’ll try
to give them to you here.
The Freedom Train is a traveling
shrine of Liberty, carrying direct¬
ly to the American people 128
documents from which our gov¬
ernment of a free people has been
evolved; records constituting the
most precious pieces of paper in
the whole world. Everything that
men and women have hoped,
prayed and fought for since the
dawn of our history. All of these
on one train, scheduled to visit each
of the 48 states in our union.
In the summer of 1946 Hon.
Thomas C. Clarke, Attorney Gen¬
eral of the United States thought
that some vivid and practical
demonstration of the things which
have brought the American Herit¬
age of Freedom to the average
citizen would be beneficial. It was
his opinion that a train carrying
priceless documents which have
brought and guaranteed freedom,
would be a good answer to the
unrest and subversive propaganda
which have been rife since World
War II was ended. His thought was
approved by President Truman. In
May 1947, 200 business and pro¬
fessional leaders representing prac¬
tically every patriotic, business,
labor and civic organization in the
country, were invited to Washing¬
ton to consider the plan. The idea
was outlined to them. They en¬
thusiastically approved. The result
e
By I .OHS T. MOORE
was the formation of the Ameri¬
can Heritage Foundation, a non¬
political, non-partisan and non-re¬
ligious body to sponsor the move¬
ment of the Freedom Train
throughout the country.
Started from Philadelphia
Philadelphia, where the Declara¬
tion of Independence was signed,
was selected as the proper point
from which the train should start.
September 17, marking the one
hundred and fiftieth anniversary
of the signing of the Declaration,
was announced as the date for
dedicating the train. It then set
forth on its journey of 33.000
miles, constituting a tour which
will embrace 300 cities. The trip
will require a year for completion.
During that time citizens will have
an opportunity to examine the
documents that form the spiritual
and political basis of their way of
life.
Seven cars long and painted red,
white and blue, the train and its
contents are guarded by a detach¬
ment of 28 Marines wherever it
goes.
In North Carolina only five cities
will receive visits from the train.
It is believed that thousands of
Tar Heels from the areas served
by these cities will gather at the
appointed times to witness a spec¬
tacle. which will probably never
again be seen. That is, a special
train conceived by the government,
operated under the guidance of
patriotic citizens, and carrying
documents of freedom literally
priceless in nature, such as the orig¬
inal Bill of Rights, George Wash¬
ington’s private copy of the Con¬
stitution, a letter written by Chris¬
topher Columbus in 1493 to a
friend in Italy telling of the discov¬
ery of the present America, Wash¬
ington’s Farewell Address, Log
Book of the U. S. S. Constitution,
Copy of the Magna Carta, Lincoln’s
Gettysburg Address, Roger Wil¬
liams statement on Religious Free¬
dom. Paul Reveres Commission,
the Treaty of Paris in 1783, a letter
from the King of Siam to President
Lincoln offering elephants to the
United States as a gesture of
friendship, documents in connec¬
tion with the surrender of the Ger¬
mans and the Japanese in World
War II, original manuscript of first
mention of Trial by Jury, the
Northwest Ordinance dated July
13, 1787, original manuscript of
the Star Spangled Banner in the
handwriting of Francis Scott Key,
the official American copy of the
Declaration of United Nations with
the Government’s ratification an¬
nexed, the first signed copy of the
Charter of the United Nations, the
American flag raised after the de¬
feat of the Japanese at Iwo Jima,
and a hundred or more additional
documents and exhibits. All of
these tend to make the Freedom
Train a veritable traveling shrine,
bringing to the people the attesta¬
tions of the liberty and freedom
which is theirs today, to enjoy in
a way all other nations are denied.
The documents are displayed be¬
tween sheets of plastic materials,
which in turn are firmly anchored
by star-headed bronze bolts inside
metal boxes. These boxes are cov¬
ered with shatterproof glass sheets
fastened to walls with uniquely
designed screws.
Carefully Guarded
Between three and four thou¬
sand square feet of a new type of
lucitc plastic, manufactured espe¬
cially for Freedom Train require¬
ments, are used to cover the hun¬
dred-odd documents on display.
This new plastic will absorb ultra¬
violet rays and preserve the life
of both ink and paper. Each plas¬
tic "envelope” containing the in¬
dividual document will measure
one-half inch in thickness. The
plastic, which is clearer than glass,
is also fire-resistant, water-resist¬
ant. and shatter-proof. According
to the manufacturers, the plastic
is so strong that it would require
(Continued on page 27)
THE State. November IS. 1947
