Texas Voyageur News

La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux

Grand Voiture du Texas

VISIT THE GRANDE DU TEXAS WEBSITE AT WWW.TEXASBOXCAR.ORG 1

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GRAND du TEXAS, THE FORTY et EIGHT

Winner of the Arthur McDowell Award 1991 – 1992 – 1993 – 1994 – 1995 – 1996 for the Best Grand Voiture Publication in the Nation without Advertising

January 2014

From the Grand Chef…

I would like to first extend my sincere THANKS to

everyone who has supported me during the recent

passing of my father. This event was complicated

upon my return to Texas as I developed

pneumonia and ended up being hospitalized for a

few days.

Plans to move the boxcar are progressing and we

can expect the boxcar to be moved for some minor

renovations around the first week of February and

then into the museum for the Grand Opening.

Remember to register for the Spring Cheminot

and make your hotel reservations! We have very

few ads for the Spring Cheminot program book.

Each locale was also sent information to place a

separate ad request for the Grand Opening

Program Book. I would expect each locale would

like to support this and individuals are also

welcome to place an ad. See the website for more

details.

Please ensure all members who do not have or

regularly use email are given a copy of the TVN.

I have spoken to several who do not regularly use

the computer and the word has not been getting

out to them. This is the responsibility of each

locale.

David Knutson

Grand Chef de Gare

CONSUL GENERAL OF FRANCE

AMONG VIPs FOR THE MERCI

BOXCAR GRAND OPENING

The grand opening for the Texas Merci Boxcar

Exhibit is set for February 23, 2014 shortly after

our 65th

Annual Pilgrimage to the Merci Boxcar.

This time the boxcar will be back at Camp Mabry

and several honored guests will attend.

The Keynote Speaker is Medal of Honor recipient

Michael E. Thornton. You will see him

highlighted on the front page of the Grande du

Texas website at: www.texasboxcar.org.

French Consul General Surjio Seam from Houston

has also graciously accepted our invitation to

attend. Other VIPS will include Past American

Legion National Commander John Brieden III,

Chef de Chemin de Fer Passe Jerry Brady, Sous

Chef de Chemin de Fer Ron Wheeler, American

Legion Department Commander Jim Fleming,

VFW State Commander Sylvia Sanchez, and

Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell.

I hope each locale will send representatives to this

event as we expect to get some good media

coverage for the Grand Opening and the more

Voyageurs Militaire who are there the better.

Don’t forget to make your reservations NOW!

http://www.texasboxcar.org/





GRAND du TEXAS MEMBERSHIP JANUARY 17, 2014

Grand Chef de Train George Murphy

1ST Division – Grand Sous Chef de Train Ron Mick

Voiture Location 2013 2014 Percent

939 Wichita Falls 10 9 90%

1123 Longview 15 0 0

1185 Ft. Worth 29 19 66%

1601 Lake Dallas 11 9 82%

Total 65 37 57%

2nd Division –Grand Sous Chef de Train Milton Chatham


163 Houston 39 23 59%

266 Copperas Cove 32 27 84%

312 Beaumont 15 14 93%

980 Willis 26 14 54%

1031 Killeen 74 62 84%

Total 186 140 75%

3rd Division – Grand Sous Chef de Train Deborah Knutson


175 Austin 15 14 93%

231 Harlingen 21 15 71%

542 San Antonio 41 24 59%

1077 Edinburg 15 8 53%

1134 Kingsville 13 3 23%

Total 105 64 61%

4th Division – Grand Sous Chef de Train Daniel Barman


605 El Paso 20 21 105%

1055 Kerrville 18 23 128%

Total 38 44 116%

GRAND TOTAL 394 285 72%

Great Job to V605 & V1055 who are over 100%

BOXCAR ARTIFACTS TO

BE ON DISPLAY!

The below items are some of the few of the

Gratitude Train artifacts that remain and are kept

in safe storage. Some items are too fragile to be

displayed but the Texas Military Forces Museum

will be setting up a temporary display of a number

of these precious items.

Please take advantage of this rare opportunity to

see items from the Texas Merci Boxcar. The only

other public display of items was in 1999 for the

50th

anniversary of the arrival of the French

Gratitude Train.

FOUNTAIN PEN AND INK WELL

MADE OUT OF ARTILLERY SHELL





BOXCAR ARTIFACTS TO BE ON DISPLAY!

(continued)

Grand Raffle

The Grand Raffle was successful and a full report

will be given at the Spring Cheminot. Additional

fund raising activities continue and donations can

be made via the website. This will ensure

sufficient funds are available for maintenance for

the future and we are also looking into getting

updated post cards and pamphlets for the boxcar.

Merci Boxcar Agenda! (Subject to change)

Friday, Feb 21, 2014

2pm – 6pm: Registration

2pm - ???: Hospitality room

Saturday, Feb 22, 2014

9am – Noon: Registration

9am – 11am: Committee meetings in morning

1pm: Grand Cheminot/Rendezvous

6pm: Social Hour

7pm: Dinner

Sunday, Feb 23, 2014:

8:30 am Memorial Service / Camp Mabry

9:00 am Private review of the Exhibit

9:30 am Reception of guests

Preparation for Event

10:00 am Grand Opening program

Exhibit Grand Opening

Immediately follows program

Boxcar Clean-out Scheduled

Items currently stored inside the Merci Boxcar

will be removed and the modifications to the

inside of the boxcar removed on Sunday, January

26, 2014 immediately following the 1pm locale

promenade for V-175. We will have a few

volunteers from Knebel Post 83 and others on

hand to assist. Voyageurs from the Central Texas

area are welcome to come and help.

Boxcar Move Date

Arrangements are being made to move the Merci

Boxcar from its pad via crane and then taken out

to Camp Mabry where additional restoration work

will be done. The move is tentatively set for the

1st week of February 2014. The actual date will

be publicized once selected.









EARLY REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 1, 2014!













FROM AROUND THE GRANDE VOITURE DU TEXAS

Donation of School Supplies by Voiture Locale 266 – Copperas Cove









(Left) Texas Senator Leticia Van de Putte presents Chef de Gare Joe McCullough with a Certificate of Appreciation. (Right)

V-542 Nurses Training Directeur Silvia Sanchez and Chef McCullough with the six Nurses Training Scholarship recipients.

(Below) Members and visitors of V-542 enjoy the show put on by Henry Newinn and his son “Johnny Elvis” who both put on

a fantastict show!





AND THE WINNERS ARE!

Left: Grand Prize Winners Gary & Lydia Hardison of

Kyle, Texas takes possession of their new car.

Above: Salesman James Abbott and GM Mike Gonyea

accept a plaque to AUTOMAX FORD KILLEEN in

Appreciation for their support by Sous Chef de Chemin

de Fer Ron Wheeler and Grand Chef Dave Knutson.

Below: Eddie Rivera of Copperas Cove claims the AR-15

and Joe McBride of McBride’s Guns accept a plaque

from Grand Chef Knutson and Voyageur Charlie

Hawkins, Grand Directeur Boxcar Maintenance, in

appreciation for their support to the Grande Voiture du

Texas.





CONGRATULATIONS

Grande Voiture du Texas Raffle Winners

Held Dec 14, 2013 in Killeen, Texas

La Grande Voiture du Texas


P.O. Box 170074

Austin, Texas 78717

ADDRESSEE: Please notify sender of name/address correction Chef de Gare – David Knutson Correspondant – Milton Chatham Commissire Intendant – Tom Larsen L’Editeur – Dave Knutson

Prize Item Winner From Sold BY

Grand Prize New 2013 Ford Fiesta G. Hardison Kyle, Tx V-175

2nd Prize Bushmaster AR-15 E. Rivera Copperas Cove, Tx V-266

3rd Prize S&W .357 pistol M. Stephenson San Antonio, Tx V-542

4th Prize $100 Gift Card D. Bone Austin, Tx V-175

5th Prize $100 Gift Card D. Janik El Paso, Tx V-605

6th Prize $100 Gift Card M. Martinez Austin, Tx V-175

7th Prize $100 Gift Card E. Counelis La Feria, Tx V-231

8th Prize $100 Gift Card T. McCullough San Antonio, Tx V-542

9th Prize $100 Gift Card B. Bawolak Euless, Tx V-1185

10th Prize $100 Gift Card B. Bovee Adrian, Michigan V-1031

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