men and women of the armed forces to the best of our ability.” This motion was moved and seconded and was open for discussion. Several members brought up ideas … Then I retracted my motion and a new motion was made by Mrs. O.B. [Mabel] Moore to close definitely April 1st, due to the fact of dwindling helpers and shortage of funds. The tally of this vote was 16 to 2 in favor of closing April 1st. I want the public to know that I voted for closing April 1st. … My expressed views were if the Canteen is to operate two more months, it should be with the proper amount of workers, food and backing by the public. … If the Canteen operates till June 1st or later (as wanted by Mrs. [Helen] Christ), in my estimation we will need $10,000 and workers. … You are the Public, the ones who are giving, and I feel the majority of the Public are in favor of closing April 1st or sooner. All other canteens, with much greater financial sup- port than ours, have closed. … Mrs. Loncar. Telegraph | Feb. 9, 1946 “The ex-servicemen who have ever been served at the North Platte Canteen don’t want it to close until the majority of men who have been overseas three and four years have returned home,” T-Sgt. Blake Bailock, … Joliet, Ill., told Mrs. C.H. [Mary Ellen] Land … Sgt. Bailock, who was served at the North Platte Canteen in 1943, on his way overseas, revisited it on his return. “The rest of the people all over the country have closed [their canteens], and you folks haven’t forgotten us,” the sergeant said. “How long are you going to stay open?” he wanted to know. Mrs. Land explained that the matter is up to the individuals,
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dear Sirs: … To me, the money I have donated to the Canteen has paid the highest interest of anything I have ever invested in. The smile of a boy who came back, and the thanks, “Gee, this is really swell,” would warm any heart and in the years to come, just to remember any day working at the Canteen, seeing the GI and Navy rush in, tell[ing] you again and again, “Say, this Canteen is known all over the world. I heard about it in Australia, in China, in the South Pacific, etc.,” [and] then when they tell you that we are the only place that greets them on their return and that they had been looking forward to it ever since they started home — why, folks, we just can’t let them down. As this is a community Canteen I believe this is a question for the community, surrounding towns and business men to decide when it should close. How about it?
A faithful worker, Mrs. C.G. [Marguerite] Bridges Telegraph | Feb. 16, 1946
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