Telegraph | Sept. 1, 1943 Canteen’s Smile Girl Is 77 Today, Receives Many Birthday Gifts O n the desk at the Canteen this morning were several small packages, with a card on each one that said “For Grandma Avery.” This might not mean much to the average citizen of North Platte, but to the Canteen workers and thousands of service men who have visited the Canteen, it means a smil- ing face topped with silver-grey hair, always to be seen at the tables dispensing food and good cheer day after day. Grandma [Mary] Avery is 77 years old to- day, and the boxes at the desk contain small gifts from the many workers with whom she is associated in the work of passing out the motto of the Canteen, “Keep ’Em Smiling.” Circle Three of the Methodist church was represented by twenty-six ladies who do- nated 110 loaves of bread, five cakes, eight dozen cookies, sandwiches and coffee and served Tuesday.
can pool their transportation and thus obtain sufficient mileage to do their jobs. Canteen workers were proud that not a penny of the Canteen’s funds came from the federal government — except for one single contribution. It was Gene Slattery, now living with his family in North Platte, who boldly reached out for a donation from the Commander-in-Chief himself. Telegraph | Aug. 21, 1943 Gene Slattery, 10, … who has auctioned his shirt off five different times for a total of over $300 to the Canteen, is a proud boy, and he has reason to be — for he is in receipt of a let- ter from the White House. The letter was written by Grace G. Tully, private secretary to President [Franklin D.] Roosevelt, and reads as follows: My Dear Gene: The President wants you to know how interested he was in learning from your letter that you and your brother are doing so much to help in the great task in which we are now engaged. Your fine cooperation is indeed ap- preciated, and this letter takes to both of you the President’s best wishes. While the President appreciates your kind thought in sending him the enclosed mem- bership card [likely for the Canteen’s Dollar- a-Month Club], he feels that he cannot
Canteen sandwich makers, circa 1943.
join any more clubs or organizations while holding his present position. It is returned herewith and I know that you will understand. Very sincerely yours, Grace G. Tully, Private Secretary. Enclosed in the letter was a $5.00 bill from the President for the North Platte Canteen. Labor Day in 1943 fell days after Italy surren- dered and Allied troops landed to battle Nazi troops who rushed to hold the country for Hitler. North Platte’s unions gave up their picnic for Canteen work.
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