Los Angeles, California, was the starting point for America’s Friendship Train, a departure which was truly an extravaganza.  Spotlights splashed across the sky.   Thousands of spectators were thrilled to be part of this occasion and to see the many celebrities.  Among the celebrities   participating  in the ceremony were Eddie Cantor, Liz Taylor, and John Wayne.  These festivities were a kick-off rally.   For logistical reasons, the actual train was being loaded in nearby Glendale.

 The cargo of this unique train consisted of 12 boxcars from the Los Angeles area.  Among those contributing to the train were the Screen Actors Guild which donated a boxcar of macaroni; Long Beach which donated a boxcar of sugar; and Glendale, which contributed one boxcar of flour.  The Los Angeles area had donated a total of 12 boxcars, an inspiration to the rest of the nation for contributions.

 When the long-awaited final moment came, station agent Frank R. Kirkland stated, “This is it.”  His brief statement indicates how much excitement the train created.  The remarks of Rev. Clarence H. Parlous of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church emphasized the excitement. “God bless this endeavor.  God speed the train.  God speed the peace.”

At 11:00 p.m. in Los Angeles, the Friendship train began its phenomenal, historical cross-country odyssey.   Eleven days later the journey would end in New York City.

The next morning the train’s first stop was Bakersfield.  Some of the dignitaries present were Judge and Mrs. Norman Main, Mayor Vanderlei, and W. R. Woollomes, chairman of the Friendship train.  Gov. Warren, a native of Bakersfield, spoke.  Local speakers included James Petrini, who spoke on behalf of the Bakersfield Italian community, and Sheriff John Loustalog, who spoke for the French community.  Adding color to the crowd was a number of men who were heavily-bearded and dressed in the western garb of pioneer days.  The men, reenacting an earlier time in our history, were participating in an afternoon parade and rodeo sponsored by the American Legion.  The Friendship train blasted off--one boxcar longer.

Even though the Friendship train was not scheduled to arrive in Fresno until 11:00, the city was out early in anticipation.   A parade of local leaders, led by Charles Marsells, assembled at the Pacific Railroad yard at Kern Street for the ceremony.  More than five thousand spectators and approximately ten bands greeted the train.  High school students carried banners declaring, “Welcome Friendship Train, Raisins for France, Raisins for Italy and Friendship from Fresno, California.” The Fresno Bee station KMJ broadcast the thrilling occasion to the entire San Joaquin Valley.

Greeting the Friendship train’s dignitaries were Mayor Glenn M. DeVore, Claude H. Ketchum, and Scott K. Wood.  Ketchum and Wood had been prominent in heading the Fresno Citizens Food Saving Committee.  After brief speeches by the officials, several French and Italian war brides, Mrs. Robert Jacobson, Mrs. Denise Englander, and Mrs. Lina Gayer, thanked the spectators for their donations to their former countrymen.

Fresno’s gift to the Friendship train was a carload of raisins and dried figs, financed chiefly by the raisin and wine industry.  Forty-five minutes after its arrival, the train for Merced, its next stop

A large crowd turned out in Merced to greet afternoon arrival of one of history’s most salient examples of our common humanity.  Fay Batten, a well-known farmer from Dos Palos, delivered the welcoming address, and local citizen R. B. Cross and Mayor J. E. Fritz spoke briefly.  The two boxcars attached to the train were filled with the suggested staples and with condensed milk, Merced’s main contribution.  Stanislaus County had contributed half a boxcar to the train.

 Both civilians and the military at Castle Field Military Base had a great time collecting for the train:  they built a miniature Friendship train.  This small replica consisted of a jeep, which had been decorated to resemble a locomotive, and three ‘freight cars.’ The ‘engineer’ drove it around the base, collecting 350 cases of milk, and then the little train, escorted by the police and the military band, drove through Merced’s streets to the loading area.  Imaging this little train, the bands, and the enthusiastic people creates a picture of how much fun the country had had with collecting food for our fellow Europeans. 

After its brief stop in Merced, the train left for Stockton where more than 3,000 spectators greeted it.  The thirty-five piece Musicians Association Band heralded the arrival, as young women dressed in French and Italian costumes, enhanced the celebratory spirit.  Cub Scouts carried signs with welcoming messages.   Mayor Woodrow Coale was among those greeting Pearson and Gov. Warren. 

Stockton’s contribution consisted of 37 tons of nutrition.   Stockton Unified School District and the College of the Pacific worked assiduously to encourage contributions.    Of the 17,752 cans of milk the schools donated, Woodrow Wilson School collected the most, a total of 3,034 cans.  The students and faculty of the College of Pacific and Stockton Junior College gave a combined 3,000 cans of condensed milk.  The Chamber of Commerce collected the money contributions, and 20 members of Archania, Omega Phi Alpha, and Rhizomia fraternities of College of Pacific volunteered to help pack food.  The train departed for Oakland, Stockton’s car carrying its identifying banner.

A parade which had no equal in the entire history of the city welcomed the Friendship train to Oakland.  Such was the declaration of Jack Berman, chairman of the local Friendship train committee.  Beginning at 20th and Franklin Streets with a police color guard and motorcycle escort, the long line wound through the streets.  Twenty six full-size bands, ranging from the American Legions and VFW posts, local high schools, the University of California, Boy Scouts and others, along with drill teams, played and marched in honor of the Friendship train. 

The train arrived at the Southern Pacific station at 7:45 p.m. floodlights illuminating the night sky.  Several thousand people witnessed the exciting civilities.  Stations KLY, KROW, and KRE broadcast the program.

Participating in this singular event, in addition to the regular Friendship train dignitaries, were Mayor Joseph Smith of Oakland, other Bay area mayors, and Gov. Ingram Stainback of Hawaii, their messages exploding over loudspeakers to the excited audience.

Oakland had implemented a well-organized food and cash campaign.  The November 7th Oakland Tribune had printed an article with directions for purchasing food and for sending cash.  Berkeley school children and their teachers turned in $1,508.  An interesting contribution came from the International House of the University of California: seven hundred students skipped dinner one evening so that the cost of the meal would be sent to the Friendship train fund; $350 resulted from their willingness to be part of this enormous movement.

Hawaii’s two carloads of sugar were added to the Oakland cars.  The Gerber Company donated a full carload of baby food, valued at $10,000.  Vallejo donated a carload of flour.  San Leandro, immediately adjacent to Oakland, delivered its donation in 19 “silvered barrels” packed by the local fire department.

Although officials originally anticipated filling five boxcars, Oakland’s total reached seven.  A part of the city’s donation which had arrived too late to be shipped on the train was sent free by California Eastern Airways.  The Friendship train remained overnight in Oakland and departed at 8:00 in the morning for Sacramento, its final stop in the Golden state.

On Sunday morning cheered by a crowd of 7,000, the Friendship train roared into the Southern Pacific Station in California’s capital.  Newsreels recorded the welcoming ceremony for later showing in France and Italy, and radio station KFBK broadcast it nationwide.  Bands from the Sacramento College, the fire department, and the musicians’ union provided some of the entertainment.

Sacramento’s Mayor George L. Klumpp arrived with the Friendship.  Officials spoke briefly, and French war bride, Christine Harris, wife of Ray Harris of Sacramento, thanked the crowd for the aid they gave to her countrymen.

Sacramento added two cars to the Friendship train.  Cash amounting to $2,712, some of it arriving too late to purchase food for the boxcars while they were there, was forwarded to New York for additional purchases.  Sacramento’s cars, painted red, white, and blue, bore a map of California showing the city as the heart of the state.  On the boxcars also was a message which reflected the feelings of all America about the Friendship train, “To our friends in France and Italy, from the people of Sacramento.”    The train left the Golden State with 27 boxcars of nourishment.

As was the policy when the train left one state and entered another, the governors of the respective states departed or boarded.  Hence, as the Friendship train left California, Gov. Warren officially handed it to Gov. Vail Pittman of Nevada, who escorted it into Reno, the first stop in the Silver State.