Analytical Essay of “Once Upon a Town” by Bob Greene

While the world was at war, and families were being separated from their loved ones, a tradition began on Christmas day in 1941 in North Platte Nebraska. “The Canteen” as it was called; actually a small railway station stop in North Platte changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people for the better, both visitors and volunteers. The Canteen became legendary and the small city of North Platte. It, along with many cities surrounding made history around the world because of their commitment to and sacrifices for the soldiers that stopped albeit briefly at the “Canteen”. The Canteen in North Platte was born by accident, but clearly addressed a real need both emotional and physical for the local citizens and the soldiers that stopped there on their way across country during a very difficult time. When a group of local families from North Platte were told the train arriving on Christmas Day in 1941 was to have the local boys of North Platte on the train they prepared to meet their families with food, and drinks. Items made by hand and with love for their loved ones. What they found when the train arrived were soldiers that in fact were not their loved ones. Although they were disappointed with the fact that the young men that arrived were not their family, they saw the young soldiers were so happy to be met by them. So much gratitude from the soldiers that stopped that day, and true appreciation for the kindness of the locals who could have handled their disappointment in not seeing their own families differently, but chose to still share their treats and gifts to help make the scared young soldiers feel appreciated, even if only for a short time. It helped to create an idea, even if just a small token in size was, that the men were really appreciated. “The biggest thing was how the people made you feel appreciated”(48) The war left many families and towns void of young men and North Platte and the surrounding towns was no different. The emotional losses that many families felt having their husbands, brothers and sons sent to war, with no guarantee that they would ever see them again made this even more special and helped to fill a void for the volunteers of the Canteen. “Life was so sort of empty in Lodgepole, with no men in town because of the war that I just took on everything I could do at the school” (31) Volunteering at the Canteen to meet the local soldiers allowed the men and women that participated in running the Canteen to remind themselves and the soldiers that there was still good in the world, and that they were not alone. This gave the soldiers hope and the volunteer’s pride. It also gave other soldiers that heard about it something to remember and look forward to if they ever got the opportunity to stop there. There was constant sacrifice from hundreds of people to volunteer their time and money to the successful operation of the Canteen in North Platte. During World War II when money was scarce for many families because the men were sent to war, they chose to sacrifice for themselves to help the soldiers stopping at the Canteen. “But for the things my mother baked for the Canteen we bought sugar. My mother and father said the servicemen should come first”(119) This sacrifice help to shape the lives of the locals and visitors alike. “The Canteen change my whole life – and I never even set foot inside”(45) With the country at war and the government restricting what families could have with regards to food, the fact that the Canteen was so successful without any help from government spoke volumes to everyone that heard about, and was able to benefit from the Canteen. There was even threat of fines being imposed for misuse or over consumption of food during this time. Rations were in place during war time, and the locals chose to give up their food to help the Canteen and soldiers at their own expense. “Sixteen women of the Paxton community donated 52 dozen Easter eggs, 600 bottles of milk, 2000 buns.”(73) The Canteen helped to create families. Because the war created towns with very few men, and therefore created real challenges for the young women that were expected to marry and start families. One group of ladies began to include the name and addresses of local girls for the soldiers to write to. This gave the soldiers someone to write to and in the same process without intending to, gave local young woman their husbands. “The Canteen? Mrs Butolph said to me. I never went there. But I got my husband there.” (42) Without intending to, the Canteen helped to bridge the gap for young men and women in the local area. “What North Platte gave the soldiers was love. Not the trivial type either” Even a mother who was told her son had been killed at war chose to continue volunteering. That should could or would want to continue volunteering at the Canteen to help the soldiers when her own son had been killed in the very war they were going to fight, allows you to understand what was being created in the lives of the people that were of part of the Canteen. How important they felt the Canteen was and how they were willing to sacrifice emotionally to make certain the young soldiers could remember that there would always be the positive memory of the North Platte Canteen during their difficult and lonely days. Charitable behavior from everyone was very contagious, and very much the normal occurrence at the Canteen. A young man that had recently been discharged from the service at the age of 16 was shown kindness so great that it brought the young man to tears. “The boy did not depart, however until the women had taken up a collection amounting to $7, which they presented the youth. He could not thank them, as he broke down and cried”(200) The Canteen was instrumental in creating the climate in North Platte and in the world that was touched by them that said although we are a country at war, we are a people that are not, and will not be crippled by the tragedy of war but encouraged to be better human beings through kindness and sacrifice for others.