The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-01-01
WONDERFUL WORK
OF THE RED GROSS
CAhTE[h COMMITTEE

Tho following statement from A. p.
Wilmer, giving a summary OF the
Red Cross canteen work in Richmond
from 1917 to ls43, Is of vast interest
to the people OF Virginia, the sons OF
m ny OF whom, on their way to and
from the front, were 80 cordially
treated BY that organization while
passing through Richmond at all
hours OF the day and night. Many
will remember the long hours OF wait
Ing at Acca and other points for the
trains bearing the loved ones, to pass
through.
Mr.. Coleman workman. chairman.
Richmond. Virginia, Chapter A.
r. C.
Richmond. Va.
aiy dear SIR
After two years and two months
ct continuous service the active work
OF your canteen committee ceased on
November iet, 1919 and its members
were transferred to the American
Red Cross Cantecn Reserves, liable
and ready for service in case OF
emergency or saecial need. This was
done at the social request OF Nation
al headqparf ers. In spite of their
long and off n arduous service viz
tnaliy the entirc canteen membership
volunteered for service in the reserves
Since September 1917, when the
Richmond canten was organized, 1t
mas cared for $4,000 soldiers and
sailors on 1857 different troop trains,
daily average OF about 1000 men
for more than two years. OF the to-
tai number $4,000 were returned sick
and wounded who we're especially
cared for by us and whose condition
in many instances was pitiful In the
extreme from wounds received on the
battlefield
We also cared for $4,000 coiored
troops passing through Richmond,
who received the same care and at
tention at our hands as the rest OF the
troopa
The hardest work was between May
LIST 1913 and August list 1919 dur
ing which sixteen months we were
caring for an average OF over $4,000
t.feH per snenth. in-SuH~ fa4 we
looked after s2.s25 men. This was
the biggest month. Some days we
had six to ten troop trains CARVING
from 5000 to 5000 men.
During the first year OF work the
canteen met troop trains ut six diff
1erent points, Byrd Street station,
Main Street, Fulton Yards. Four
teenth street, Clopton and Hermitage
Yards. without shelter generally. ex-
posed to all kinds OF weather, winter
and summer. at any hour of night or
day 1t might be called upon. The
committee sometimes met troor
trains at three different points at the
same how. which would tax our re-
sources to the utmost Whatever the
dimculues might be, however, the
work was always done quietly,
quickly and effectively and the ser.
vice was given gladly and cheerful
ly to all alike
During the last year most Of tho
WORK at tho canteen was done at the
Main Street station where the Ches-
pcake and Ohio railway company
kindly built . very convenient can
teen hut which gave us shelter and a
place to store our necessary sup
aifes and equipment and to tho troops
passing through . place OF rest and
recreation Tho railway ofYiciais ana
employees co-operated with us In every
way and did all they could to keep
US in touch with troop movements.
Previous to this time we had used
the basement of the Raleigh apart
ment. which had been most kindly
placed at our disposal by the owner
and which was OF the greatest helm
as central distributing point and
base OF supplies.
For the safety OF the troop trains
and for military reasons. while the
war was In progress, 1t was necessary
that no Information regarding troop
movements should DE published. On
this account the work OF the canteen
had to be done as quietly as possi-
Bile. and for this reason the uuh,ic
generally had no idea of the maruf-
tude OF the work that was being done
by this branch Of the Red Cross nor
did they know how important a CEN
ter for troop movements Richmond
had become.
In addition to more than three
quarters OF a million OF United States
troops, your canteen had the pleasure
of caring for soldiers from Belgium.
France. Australia. New Zealand.
Canada and Great Britain; for Red
Cross nurses returned from the front.
many OF them broken down in health.
and for French war brides. many OF
whom had very young babies with
them, to whom in some instances the
Red Cross supplied clothing as well
as fasd.
1t lis not too much to say that the
reputation OF Richmond for friendly
hospitality and, loyalty has been car
ried throughout every state OF the
Union, as we'll AS to the countries
named above. by the activities OF your
canteen.
Commanders OF troop trains have
often said gAat this cantecn service
was OF the greatest help to them in
handling troops, as 1t made their men
contented and happy.
officers and men have repeatedly
stated that nowhere have they seen
ssssfs sAntsess seg-yicA. more eff
ciently rendered, than in Richmond.
To every man In uniform was given
something to eat, drink and smoke.
and to most of them postcards to send
home and papers and magazines to
read on their long journeys. Their
mail was cared for by It's and for !
warded and postage supplied when
necessary.
This was all done at an ayerare
cost to the Richmond chapter OF less
thsp SA cents per man. Yet no one
was overlooked and all were well
cared for. II was no unusual thing
for $50 gallons of coffee to be served |
In one day In cold weather or ~ much |
iced tea in summer Tina
What the men seemed to appre- |
ciate sven more than the food and
smokes was the kind AZ cordial well
come and friendly greeting thew