Vice President Alben Barkley at French Merci Train Gift Ceremony
Vice-President Alben Barkley attends a ceremony recognizing a gift of a boxcar from the French "Merci" train. The train is a gift from France to the United States in recognition of U.S. aid to France after World War II. Standing behind the podium are Senator Tom Connally (saluting), French Ambassador to the United States Henri Bonnet (next to Connally), Vice-President Barkley (holding his hat over his heart), and Senator Arthur Vandenberg (to the right of Barkley). All others are unidentified.