WORLD WAR I COMMEMORATED MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AT THE B&O RAILROAD MUSEUM – A WEEKEND OF GRATITUDE!

Friday, May 24: > See the one and only Maryland Merci Car, one of 49 wooden boxcars that made up the Merci Train, exhibited in the center of the B&O;’s Roundhouse turntable. The Merci Train was a big thank you from France after WWII for all the gifts and donations that Americans gave to France for their liberation. > Watch the power of one person move the Maryland Merci Car via a Roundhouse turntable demonstration at 12 Noon. > Explore First to Fight: Railroaders in WWI, a new temporary exhibit depicting WWI through the gaze of the railroaders who were instrumental in an allied victory. Saturday, May 25: >Help support Operation Gratitude’s “Socks for Soldiers” from May 25 - July 14 (Bastille Day). Soldiers need new, black crew length socks, single packs of sanitary wipes, 1 oz. sunscreen packs, and individual bags of beef jerky. Visitors and supporters of the B&O; may donate these needed items to the “Socks for Soldiers” campaign. The B&O; will place all collected items and display them inside the Maryland Merci Car, where visitors can see how their efforts will help the basic needs of our military. The goal is to fill the gratitude car one more time – this time for American troops! >Swing Dance demonstration at 12:30pm by Mobtown Ballroom dance instructors and performers. For one-hour visitors can watch or learn how to swing dance, a type of dancing that became popular during the war. >Victory Garden kits that kids can plant and take home. Victory Gardens were encouraged by the U.S. government to help increase with food production during the war and were frequently planted along railroad corridors. >Sofi's Crepes will be serving from 11:30am – 3pm six different varieties of delicious French crepes!