Rewind to the beginning of WWII. Ten days after the attack of Pearl Harbor, a train filled with young National Guard troops was expected to pass through North Platte, Nebraska, en route to war. North Platte was a "tender point" for all steam trains, where they paused ten minutes to top off water levels and lubricate wheels. Hundreds of relatives and friends of local servicemen showed up to meet the train with gifts of food, but when the train arrived, it carried soldiers from another state. Folks on the platform weren't sure what to do, until 26-year-old Rae Wilson shouted, "I'M NOT KEEPING MY COOKIES!" and passed them up to a soldier on the train.
Others followed her lead, but this was only the beginning. The next day, Rae wrote to the local newspaper suggesting local mothers meet every troop train with food and love. She offered to run the project for free, and the railroad gave her the station restaurant, which became the North Platte Canteen. President Roosevelt sent a personal check for $5.00, but no other federal funds were used. Canteen expenses averaged $225/week, donated from over 200 Nebraska farm communities. If hospital trains carried wounded veterans who were immobile, women would walk up and down the aisles distributing food. The canteen was open from 5 a.m. until midnight every day until the war ended, serving six million soldiers and sometimes meeting 32 trains per day.
If you want an unforgettable moment, watch this video. At the very end, a young woman calls her grandpa who served in WWII. Did he ever go through North Platte? He lives in a nursing home and has dementia. He often forgets her name. What happens next may cost you a tear. www.youtube.com/watch?v=
Others followed her lead, but this was only the beginning. The next day, Rae wrote to the local newspaper suggesting local mothers meet every troop train with food and love. She offered to run the project for free, and the railroad gave her the station restaurant, which became the North Platte Canteen. President Roosevelt sent a personal check for $5.00, but no other federal funds were used. Canteen expenses averaged $225/week, donated from over 200 Nebraska farm communities. If hospital trains carried wounded veterans who were immobile, women would walk up and down the aisles distributing food. The canteen was open from 5 a.m. until midnight every day until the war ended, serving six million soldiers and sometimes meeting 32 trains per day.
If you want an unforgettable moment, watch this video. At the very end, a young woman calls her grandpa who served in WWII. Did he ever go through North Platte? He lives in a nursing home and has dementia. He often forgets her name. What happens next may cost you a tear. www.youtube.com/watch?v=
Wow. I just finished reading Killing the Rising Sun by Bill O'Reilly. WWII was awful, especial vs. Japan. Often forgotten is the tremendous effort by everyone at home supporting the war effort. Thanks for this post!
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