Anybody remember the American Freedom Train of 1975-76?

[Coventina]

I was going through some of my mom's old stuff and found the souvenir program from when it came to Seattle.

I had completely forgotten that we'd gone to see it (I was still in my single-digit years).

My mother wrote in the program that we waited 2 & 1/2 hours to see it.

I wonder if such a thing would draw those kinds of crowds in our society today?

It was an interesting recovered memory from my childhood.

It makes me wonder how much more I could remember if I had similar triggers.

On edit: typo

[alittlelark]

1. It was the Bicentennial train

When it came thru Albuquerque we all had field trips to it. I still vividly remember much of it - Lincoln’s rocking chair especially.

[woodsprite]

3. I still have my brochure and the Freedom Train patch

I can remember it was sooooo windy the day my friend’s father took us, that the wind would actually hold us up if we did a ‘trust fall’ with it! We saw it at Delaware Park racetrack when it came through New Castle Co.

[ZZenith]

4. Never forget it.

Our school choir sang for the occasion and I had a solo part in “Sweet Betsy From Pike.”

Much has changed since 1976 and the MAGA crowd has nearly succeeded in usurping the U.S. flag and the notion of “patriotism,” so I doubt I would attend such a thing now.

[underpants]

5. We went on it in Chesterfield I think

🇺🇸

[yellowdogintexas]

6. my father in law rode the 1947 Freedom Train on its tour.

Last edited Sun Jan 2, 2022, 04:48 PM - Edit history (1)

He was a career Marine and was selected for the Honor Guard which rode the route. This train visited every state and took 2 years to complete its run.

The Freedom Train was temporary home to America's most precious documents and other unique treasures, including the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, one of the 13 original copies of the Constitution, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address, the Iwo Jima flag, the German and Japanese surrender documents that ended World War II, and much more.

https://www.freedomtrain.org/freedom-train-home.htm

I do not know the duration of his time on the train but it was one of the first things I learned about his military career (from my husband)

He attended the (most likely 50th) Reunion of the Freedom Train in 1996. It was the last big thing he did before his health started to go down hill, and he had a fabulous time. I have refrigerator magnets that he brought back from the trip.

The whole family was so proud that he was selected to ride the train.

[Coventina]

9. I wish I could rec your post! Such a cool story!!

[Deep State Witch]

7. I saw it

I saw it in Pittsburgh. My Mom and Dad drove me and my cousin down to Station Square to see it.

[Boomerproud]

8. I remember standing on a runner that took you through it

and it went very fast. Didn't have much time to look at the exhibits.