Show SHRINE ON WHEELS freedom train unfolds story of nations nation democratic ideals features Pea tures history is rolling across america in the form of the freedom train the moving symbol of the nations year of to the ideals and practices of democracy from philadelphia universally conceded to be the cradle of american liberty the freedom train has embarked on a mile yearlong year long tour during which it will visit more than communities in all of the 48 states an integral phase of the year of rededication which is designed as a broad educational program to emphasize the blessings of the common american heritage of liberty for every individual citizen citizen the freedom train will bring precious documents recording that freedom to the attention of millions of americans ranging from the first printed references to christopher columbus discovery of america in 1492 to the charter of the united nations approved in 1945 the documents unfold a story covering epochal years in world Nhi history story more than orl original ginal copies copie of such historical manuscripts manuscript sas as the constitution the bill of rights the declaration of independence and the emancipation proclamation are ace included in the national shrine on wheels E each ach document Is placed in a plastic envelope fitted to the individual book or hect the envelope Is waterproof fire fireproof poof shatterproof ers claim the material Is so strong that it would require a pound ball traveling at 50 miles an courto hour to pierce the sur bur face the covered documents are placed in cases of steel plate covered by special shatterproof double glass sheets the gl glass assis is treated to discourage ultra ultraviolet violet ray ay r penetration as the rays are harmful to thi the aldand old and fragile paper of many of the old documents protective measures every object in the seven coach train with exception of the documents is fireproof through in stalla tion of a special fire extinguishing system employing carbon dioxide thirty six marines including many war veterans vill vall guard the display day and night named the spirit of 1776 and sporting a brilliant red white and blue color scheme the freedom train will bei be a conspicuous exhibit containing items of american memorabilia the documents included in the freedom train display have been termed the oui outstanding standing collection of original american papers ever assembled in one exhibit the te american heritage of freedom doi and free institutions is typified by such documents as the english bill of rights the declaration of independence jeffersons jefferso nd bill tor for religious freedom the draft of the constitution with annotations by george washington Lincol ns first draft of the emancipation proclamation and jeffersons letter on freedom of the press shown as a sequel to the declaration of independence Is a copy of the treaty of paris signed september 3 1783 in which great britain recognized the independence of the united states the treaty was signed for the united states by benjamin franklin john adams and johnjay john jay historically valuable farewell address Lincol ns draft of the gettysburg address papers paper of thomas jeffer son franklin james madison Mad laon an drew jackson and other leaders IR in the early days of the country add to the historical significance of the ex hibit albit typical of the more glamorous as 1 pacts of the nations early history are a manuscript containing the only known authoritative account of the first raising of the flag bag the bonafide bona fide log book of the famous frigate constitution better known as old ironsides and jacksons letter to the secretary of war describing the battle of new orleans among amone the odd exhibits are benjamin franklins own epitaph in his own hand one of 0 the most famous epitaphs in the X english language which was written out for samuel VT and presented present ed to him by poor richard grobard on august 31 1776 and the original letter in InSl siamese arnese i from king of slam offering to send a gift of elephants to president lincoln in 1861 included jn in the exhibits in the world war II 11 section are the original pencilled draft by gen george marshall announcing appointment of gen dwight eisenhower Elsen hower to command the invasion of western europe the war departments original copy of the last radiogram sent by general wainwright from correal Cor regi dor der the last part of which was garbled as communications were broken off and admiral nimitz original report of the battle of midway surrender documents As evidence that freedom triumphs the original german surrender documents at rheims signed may 7 1945 and the log of the US missouri displayed at the page covering the japanese surrender aboard the battleship in tokyo bay september 2 1945 are placed on display concluding the exhibit is a section flags of freedom which includes such historic flags as the famous flag raised on mount suri bachl bachi by U S marines in the invasion of iwo jima |