U.S. Senator Deb Fischer is highlighting a historic Nebraska tradition of service as the North Platte Canteen reaches a major milestone.
Fischer says the year 2026 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the North Platte Canteen, a World War II-era effort that served more than six million soldiers traveling through Nebraska between December 1941 and April 1946.
The Canteen began just days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, when a crowd gathered in North Platte expecting to greet loved ones on a passing train. Instead, they found unfamiliar troops. A local drug store clerk, Rae Wilson, offered her homemade cookies to the soldiers, inspiring others to do the same — launching what would become one of the nation’s most remarkable volunteer efforts.
At its peak, up to 32 trains carrying military personnel stopped in North Platte each day. Volunteers provided food, coffee, and encouragement to troops passing through. In a single month, the Canteen received tens of thousands of cookies and eggs, along with thousands of cakes and pounds of sandwich meat.
Over nearly five years, about 55,000 volunteers from 125 communities across Nebraska contributed to the effort, often traveling long distances to ensure every train was met with support.
Fischer says the Canteen’s impact is personal for her, noting her mother, Florence Strobel, was among the volunteers.
To commemorate the anniversary, Fischer and Senator Pete Ricketts have reintroduced legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal to those who supported the North Platte Canteen. The medal would be displayed at the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte.
Fischer says the recognition would honor the compassion and dedication shown by Nebraskans during World War II and preserve the legacy of those who helped boost the morale of America’s service members.
April 1st marks the 80th anniversary of the final day of the North Platte Canteen.