Daily Bulletin | Dec. 18, 1941 Canteen Here Is Suggested For Soldiers F ollowing the visit of the troop train here yes- terday afternoon Miss Rae Wilson, sister of
It was only a week before Christmas, but Rae sprang into action. She wrote U.P. President and North Platte native William Jeffers the day her letter (right) was printed, The Daily Bulletin reported later. She rallied her friends and neigh- bors to her cause, The Telegraph wrote in its North Platte Centennial edition of 1973. And they responded. Telegraph | Sept. 17, 1973 That day [Wilson] took time off from her job and got busy. She called practi- cally everyone in town, asking the mer- chants for candy, magazines, tobacco and anything else they could give, lining up the housewives to contribute cakes and cookies and getting the younger women to promise to be on hand at the station to dish up coffee and conversation for the boys. Daily Bulletin | Dec. 20, 1941 “Organization of a canteen to bring good will and cheer to soldiers passing thru North Platte will be discussed at a meet- ing at the chamber of commerce rooms in the Pawnee hotel building Monday evening,” Miss Rae Wilson, who started the ball rolling for the Canteen, said yesterday. …
“To see the spirits and the high morale among those soldiers should certainly put some of us on our feet and make us realize we are really at war. We should help keep this soldier morale at its highest peak. We can do our part. “During World War I the army and navy mothers, or should I say the war mothers, had [a] canteen at our own depot. Why can’t we, the people of North Platte and the other towns surrounding our community, start a fund and open a Canteen now? I would be more than willing to give my time without charge and run this canteen. “We who met this troop train which arrived about 5 o’clock were expecting Nebraska boys. Naturally we had candy, cigarettes, etc., but we very willingly gave these things to the Kansas boys. “Smiles, tears and laughter followed. Appreciation showed on over 300 faces. An officer told me it was the first time anyone had met their train and that North Platte had helped the boys keep up their spirits. “I say get back of our sons and other mothers’ sons 100 per cent. Let’s do some- thing and do it in a hurry! We can help this way when we can’t help any other way.” — Rae Wilson
North Platte’s Captain Denver Wilson, suggested that a canteen be opened here to make the trips of soldiers thru the city more entertaining. She offered her services without charge. Her public- spirited and generous offer is contained in the following communications to The Bulletin: “Editor, The Daily Bulletin: “I don’t know just how many people went to meet the trains when the troops went thru our city Wednesday, but those who didn’t should have.
The North Platte Telegraph
24 CANTEEN: AS IT HAPPENED
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