While surfing around I found this video; An unusual bit of history that deserves to be remembered.
It was a lot diffeent for some of us 30+ years ago , or so. Some of us came back from RVN to a very different reception, I hope never is ever repeated.
This needs to be remembered: { A little bit of history and railroad (UPRR) unselfishness.}
An excellent video. Thanks for posting the link.
Bruce
That’s a great video. I had numerous relatives who served in WWII and I never got tired of hearing their stories.
I do agree that all of our fighting personnel should have been treated a hundred times better when they were over in Vietnam. Although that time period was before I was born (born in '85) I think it is one of country’s greatest sins.[soapbox]
My mother-in-law (who was born in Beatrice and raised in Grand Island) told tales of meeting the trains at the station. I’m guessing that they might have dome something on a smaller scale at GI as well. If not, she could be one of those girls in the picture (born on the Fourth of July; would have been 17 at Pearl Harbor Day).
And that is pronounced Bee-AT-tris, with emphasis on 2nd syllable. Not BEE-ah-tris, with accent on first syllable - which is very British.
One thing that some might have missed- In the video, it notes that it was folks from the surrounding North Platte area of approx 150 miles, who supported the Canteen and made it a success.
These folks scacificed not only their time, but their individual supplies to bake cookies, pies and cakes (many grocery items,particularly sugar and coffee to name a couple, were rationed by the War effort, and Government. Particularly, gasoline and rubber for tires were very rationed and tightly controlled. People had ration coupons and stickers which allowed purchases of limited amounts of gasoline, and only on specified days of the month, based on a system of allocations according to need.
May 15, is Armed Forces Day! So it is particularly fitting we remember Sevce Men and Women and their sacrifices that got us here, and the individual civilians whose sacrifices help our efforts to support our military.
{Edit} Do not forget! This whole project and the spirits it lifted were acomplished, along with individual sacrifice, and the spirit of helping; individuals who worked for the UPRR, and its management to enabled the Canteen to exist and provide the place so that the good will and services could be delivered to traveling service personnel so well.[tup][tup]
The Lincoln County Historical Museum located on the northwest side of North Platte, Nebr. has a room devoted to the WW2-era North Platte Canteen.
One Sunday 15-summers ago I spent the better part of a day just in that room looking at exhibits, and reading all of the scrap books and albums filled with letters of appreciation and photographs. I was completely swept away by the experience.
The Canteen Restaurant located at the northwest corner of I-80 and US 83 has a lot of large b.& w. photos displayed on the wall - most of which feature scenes from the North Platte Canteen. The food is pretty good there too.
http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/facilities/bailey/byhistor.shtml
http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/2007/np_canteen.shtml
http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/releases/heritage_and_steam/2007/0622_canteen.shtml
A little bit off topic. Albert Brown was born in North Platte.