-Why would the organizers choose that type of artist?

-What does heraldry symbolize?

-What are the pros and cons of this historical action?

-Why would the Gratitude Train organizers in 1949 choose a heraldist to design the artwork for the Merci Boxcars if the province system no longer existed?

-What do the shields represent and why were they important enough to put on boxcars of gratitude going to America?

-What were they?

-When did they originate?

-What did they represent?

-Why would they have been used in 1949?

-Why or why not?

-What does this type of exchange tell us about gratitude and diplomacy?

-Think of what things you use today that didn’t exist in 1949.

-Would you include a note? What would you say?

-List 5 values that you feel are the most important.

-Look online to find the values in both ‘Ōlelo Hawai`i (Hawaiian language) and English.

-What happened?

-How did it make you feel about yourself or others?

-How did it make you feel about practicing kōkua?

-How can acts of kōkua influence a larger community or even society?

-Why do you think individuals/companies chose to participate anyway?

-What major historical events had occurred in Hawai`i between 1890 and 1947? How would these events influence people one way or the other?

-Why didn’t the Gratitude Train organizers use more modern boxcars or something else?

-What do you think motivated them?

-Why is it important?

-What historical moments/things should we spend time and money on restoring?

-Do we repeat history or not? Why?

Critical Thinking Prompts

Why is it important to remember the 1947 Friendship Train and 1949 Merci Boxcars?

Compare the motivations behind the American Friendship Train and the French Gratitude Train. How were they similar or different?

What role did ordinary citizens play in both efforts and why is that significant?

How did World War II affect the people of Europe, the United States of America and the Territory of Hawai`i?

Why was it important for France to send a symbolic gesture like the Gratitude Train to America?

A famous French heraldist was tasked with creating the decorations used on the Merci Boxcars (click on icon):

By 1791, France had abolished the feudal province system and reorganized the country into departments. This was done to create a more uniform nation and reduce regional loyalties (click on icon):

Many symbols were used in creating J-58220 (click on icon):

What message did these trains send about international relationships after the war?

Do you think grassroots efforts are as impactful as government programs? (Click on icon):

How might similar acts of goodwill look today between countries?

Imagine you lived in 1949 France. What would you contribute to the Gratitude Train? (Click on icon):

Write a letter from a French citizen receiving aid or an American receiving a Merci Boxcar gift.

What are important Hawaiian values? (Click on icon):

Why is kōkua an important Hawaiian value?

How is kōkua different from simply "helping" someone?

In what kinds of situations might people practice kōkua?

What challenges might people face when trying to practice kōkua in everyday life?

How is kōkua similar or different from values in other cultures?

Describe a time when you experienced or demonstrated kōkua (click on icon):

How might communities improve if everyone practiced kōkua? (Click on icon):

Write a short story that highlights kōkua in action.

Create a "Kōkua Day." What activities would you plan?

The people of Hawai`i weren't asked to participate in the Friendship Train efforts. (Click on icon):

What did the World War I-era boxcars symbolize to the American "Doughboys?" (Click on icon):

What do you think about the letter written by Louis Brenel?

Why did so many different people volunteer to restore J-58220? (Click on icon):

Is it important to restore historical objects? (Click on icon):