Telegraph | June 8, 1943 Hundreds of service men have written letters of thanks to the ladies at the Canteen or to those who make donations and assist with the work, but today one of the first letters received from the ladies in service was received by Mrs. D.T. [Willa] Swaim, who recently furnished a birthday cake. The letter says in part: “I would like to thank you and all the others who made it possible for me to have a pleasant birthday away from home. “I do honestly believe that in all the time I have been traveling on trains all over the country, never in all the places I have been have people been so eager to do all they could for one another as I found in your town of North Platte. “If you would or could only understand what it means to be so far away from all the things that are close to you at a time when you really would like to have them near, then I am sure that you will know what I am trying to tell you. “I would like to thank you in the name of all the girls in the service who are made to feel at home as you do for the boys in service. … P.S. The cake was wonderful.” The letter was signed, Evelyn Smith Glason, Sk3c., United States Naval Res. North Platte’s dailies had periodically featured children helping out the Canteen. Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts took turns running errands for the workers. During the 1942-43 school year, some
Unidentified women carrying donated books, magazines other items into the Canteen, circa 1943.
Now Gene was about to unwittingly donate his way to national fame.
Jefferson Elementary School students formed a “Junior Commando” troop (inspired by “Little Orphan Annie”) that gathered scrap metal, sold magazines and ran errands for grocers to raise funds for the Canteen and the Red Cross. As 1943 began, 9-year-old John “Gene” Slattery sent the Canteen $11.16 after selling two roost- ers. His older brother, Larry, had been “written up” in June 1942 for selling a goat that raised $10.25.
Telegraph | June 19, 1943 The North Platte Canteen has two loyal supporters from Big Springs, and they are constantly thinking up new means to make money for the support of the organization.
Continued on page 58
1942–43 57
Made with FlippingBook - PDF hosting