Show SHRINE ON WHEELS freedom train unfolds story of nations democratic ideals Pea features tures history is rolling across america in the form of the freedom train the moving symbol of the nations year of tile 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 00 communities in all of the 48 states an integral phase of the year rededication which Is designed a as s a broad educational program to emphasize the blessings of 0 the common american heritage ot of liberty tor for every individual citizen the freedom train will bring precious documents recording that freedom to the attention ot 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 ayears years in world history more than original copies of such historical manuscripts as the constitution the bill of rights the declaration of independence and the emancipation proclamation are included in the oat ional shrine ori on wheels each decu document ment Is placed la in a plastic envelope fitted to the individual d IV bidual book dr or sheet the envelope Is waterproof fire fireproof poof and shatterproof manufacturers claim the material Is so strong that it would require it a pound ball traveling at 50 miles an hour to pierce the surface the covered documents document s are placed lp aced I 1 in n cases of steel plate cov er ered ed b by y special shatterproof double glass sheets the glass is treated to discourage ultraviolet ultra violet ray penetration as the rays are harmful to the 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 installation of a special fire extin extinguishing puishing gui shing system employing carbon dioxide thirty six marines including many war veterans will guard the the display day and night named alie the spirit of 1776 and sporting a brilliant red white and blue color scheme the freedom train will be a conspicuous exhibit containing items of amerlean american memorabilia the documents included in the freedom train display have been termed the outstanding collection of original american papers ever assembled in one exhibit the american heritage of freedom d om and free institutions is typified by such documents as the english bill of rights the declaration of independence jeffersons bill tor for religious freedom the draft of the constitution with annotations by george washington Lincol ns first of the emancipation procla bation ration and jeffersons letter on breedom 01 Tre edom of the press shown as a sequel to the declaration of independence ceis 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 john jay historically valuable valuably abl farewell address Lincol ns draft of the gettysburg address papers of thomas jefferson franklin james madison andrew jackson and other leaders in the early days of the country add to the historical significance 0 of the exhibit typical of the more glamorous aspects of the nations early history are a manuscript containing the only known authoritative account ol 01 the first raising of the flag 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 Batt battle leof of new orleans among the odd exhibits are benjamin franklins own epitaph in his own hand one or of the ine most famous epitaphs in the english language lang which was written out for samuel morris and presented to him by poor richard on august 31 1776 and the original letter in siamese from king of siam offering to id send a gift of elephants to president lincoln in 1861 included in the exhibits in the world war II 11 section are the original pencilled draft by gen george marshall announcing appointment ot 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 corregidor the last part of which was vas 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 s may 7 1945 and the log of the missouri displayed at the page cover covering ipg the japanese surrender aboard the battleship in tokyo I 1 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 surl bachl by U S marines in the invasion of iwo jima |