The June 4 dedication of the RPO car to Ray VanBlarcum, Jr. took place under sunny skies. Friends and family were in attendance, some coming from quite a distance. Dennis Brandal was the Master of Ceremonies and he explained a bit about the RPO car and how it came to be in our possession. The invocation was given by Keith Knauer, brother-in-law of Ray. Ray's son, Kirk VanBlarcum explained how he and his sister had been raised as railfans, riding as many trains as Ray and Linnea could manage and how they felt a special connection with all the things their father had taught them. He also expressed the family's gratitude for affording Ray this honor. Charlie Wise gave a perspective of Ray, his love for trains, the Pennsy RR and the RPO car, peppering his talk with a few anecdotes and telling how Ray was nearly a walking billboard for the museum. He also told an interesting story about an RPO dog and how it traveled all over the country on RPO cars and became a mascot for the Postal Service. Then, the time everyone had been waiting for - Linnea, Kirk & his sister Kristen unveiled the bronze plaque which has been installed beside the RPO car honoring Ray. The plaque is beautiful and the likeness uncanny. Make sure to look for it the next time you visit the museum. Immediately following the ceremony guests were invited inside the RPO car where a temporary Post Office was set up. Specially designed commemorative envelopes, with specially designed postage stamps were hand-cancelled, also with a custom designed postal stamp, and given to those in attendance. Guests were encouraged to tour the museum, socialize and enjoy a few munchies at a small reception which was held in the Seaboard Diner. All in all, it was a very nice day and a very fitting tribute to Ray.