Telegraph | March 8, 1946 The men and women who so faithfully have served the members of the armed forces seven days a week for the past four years will be honored and given due recognition by the North Platte Chamber of Commerce. At a board of directors meeting Wednesday night, it was voted to hold the biggest celebration, in honor of these people, that North Platte has ever known, it was announced today … It is planned to have high-ranking military men, Union Pacific railroad officials and Congressional representatives present in North Platte to address and meet the people who have helped make the North Platte Canteen one of, if not the best- known and best liked canteens in the nation. The residents of all surrounding communities who have supported the Canteen during more than three years of war and the ensuing months of peace will be invited to attend the huge celebration. A definite date has not been set for the affair. Daily Bulletin | March 16, 1946 A meeting of the North Platte Canteen Board was held at the Canteen at 9 a.m. yesterday with all board members present. At this meeting [a] unani- mous vote was cast to accept the date of April 1 as the closing date of the Canteen. … [Treasurer D.J.] Fredrick was appointed to take charge of the money until the books can be closed and disposal made of the balance. Other commit- tees also were appointed.
which was I was associated while en route to the Pacific theater of war. Everything was swell, that is, the coffee, refreshments and magazines. I still hear talk among the ex-GIs about the town of North Platte. So your town has gone down among the soldiers, sailors and marines. As we said in the navy, ‘four-o,’ which is 100 per cent. “I have been out of the navy about three months now and felt it was my duty to thank the various groups that helped to make my tour of duty in the service a pleasant one. Hoping someday in the future when I can make a west- ern trek [that] I can again stop in North Platte. So ‘thanking you’ again. “Yours sincerely, Edward G. Hickey, New London, Conn.” [The second letter:] “Dear Sir, “In behalf of a group of Milford, Mass., boys, I wish to extend the appreciation of our town to you and your city. “Lt. Charles Goucher spoke highly of the warm reception accorded him and a group of boys traveling with him. These boys were from home and feeling rather low. The residents of your community took them to their hearts and made them feel at home. They were high in praise for North Platte. “I assure you, sir, we will not forget such treat- ment and will try to emulate North Platte. “Sincerely, Adam Diorio, chairman of selectmen, Milford, Mass.”
The Canteen’s faithful local and regional workers had been taking their final turns. Stapleton, first on the Canteen Honor Roll, served on March 19. It was Chappell’s turn the next day. Daily Bulletin | March 20, 1946 The Chappell community, faithful workers at the Canteen for the past three years, served for the last time yesterday. Forty-eight workers represented the community. They donated 14½ pounds of butter, 42 loaf cakes, 11 birthday cakes, 38 dozen cookies, 44 dozen eggs, two gallons of ground chicken, 17½ quarts of cream, eight quarts of pickles, one gallon of onions, 63 pounds of coffee, one quart of salad dressing, two loaves of ginger bread, one pecan pie, seven cartons of cigarettes, six crates and two dozen oranges, six crates of apples, seven gallons of milk, 86 religious pamphlets, 2,000 buns, 150 pounds of wieners, 60 pounds of ground beef and 10 boxes of magazines. Daily Bulletin | March 27, 1946 The thirty Ogallala workers who served at the Canteen for the last time yesterday entertained the Tuesday officers of the day and the Canteen founder, Miss Rae Wilson, at a covered dish luncheon. Mrs. S.O. Pitts, speaking on behalf of the committees and workers, expressed the Ogallala community’s appreciation for the opportunity of Continued on page 122
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