workers are in charge with the Lutheran Church women of Gothenburg and North Platte furnish- ing the food and serving the service personnel who stop today. … Apropos of the day, a sailor on his way home from the Pacific claimed a birthday cake this morning — his second from the Canteen. The North Platte Canteen is where he spent his birthday two years ago today, on his way to the Pacific. … The Canteen will close tonight after the last train has stopped. Mrs. Charles [Jessie] Hutchens, secretary, asked that all persons who have loaned cooking utensils and other equipment for the du- ration of the Canteen call for the articles tonight. Many Canteen friends called at the Canteen Sunday, the last Sunday of its operation, to give the hospitable servicemen’s center of Nebraska a last once-over. Twenty-two trains pulled into the sta- tion, and returning servicemen, who shouted happy greetings to find the Canteen still open, gave the women a heartwarming commendation when they learned the Canteen would close today. Telegraph | April 3, 1946 (published April 2) “Thanks a million, for six million guys.” With those words, Aviation Ordnance Mate Second Class Richard Whisner of Port Clinton, O., [Ohio] last of more than six million service men and women who have been its guests, said good bye to the North Platte Service Men’s Canteen. “This is my eighth trip through the Canteen, and
I’ve always been treated graciously,” Whisner said. Edwin G. Adams, 21, navy carpenter’s mate form Allentown, Pa., who was on his way home after 20 months service with the fleets, was the last serviceman to visit the Canteen on his birthday and to claim a birthday cake. Wayne and Bill Johnson, Conneaut, O., broth- ers who served together four years aboard the USS Castlerock, also were among the last to visit the Canteen. “Boy, this is like coming home,” they said in uni- son. Wayne explained that they, too, had visited the Canteen on their way to the Pacific. Like the last day of school, the women were dressed in their best and, with smiling, animated faces, greeted one another, talked, laughed and relived many happy hours spent at the Canteen in the past four years. But not a few damp eyes witnessed the removal of the Canteen sign [and] the lowering of the American flag outside the Canteen. The last trainload of servicemen steamed west- ward, and the women waved their last goodbye. At 5:55 p.m., Originator Rae Wilson and General Chairman Mrs. Adam [Helen] Christ turned the key in the lock. Wondering what to do now with their spare time and wishing never to hear another train whistle, the weary women turned homeward, ready for a rest but saddened at the thought of the closed doors. “Well, you won’t have to get up at six o’clock anymore,” a man consoled one of the regular
The Telegraph's issue of April 2, 1946, actually appeared the afternoon of the Canteen's final day on April 1. The North Platte Telegraph
workers. “You mean 4:45,” she replied, “and I never complained about that. I’ve never regretted or be- grudged a minute of lost early-morning sleep.” Gene Slattery, who started selling his shirts, his toys and his pets for the Canteen when he was nine years old, was present [with brother Larry] for the closing. Mrs. Mike [Rose] Loncar, on behalf of the regular workers, presented the now 13-year-old lad with a brown shirt, with strict instructions not to sell this one. W.A. Coons, chief photographer, and Bill Murphy, director of public relations for the Union Pacific, were here from Omaha to make a pictorial record of the Canteen closing. Numerous action shots were taken. Continued on page 124
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