Servicemen's Free Canteen : Marker #6-2
Posted by: 
Mr. 0
N 40° 44.690 W 084° 06.140
16T E 744651 N 4514471
Located next to the Lima Utilities department on N Central in Lima
Waymark Code: WMBQ12
Location: Ohio, United States
Date Posted: 06/11/2011
Views: 10
"Servicemen's Free Canteen"
The Lima Chapter of the American Women's Voluntary Services Organization established a community-based, free canteen during World War II for troops traveling on the Pennsylvania Railroad and adjacent Baltimore & Ohio-Nickel Plate Railroads. Meeting as many as forty trains a day, the ladies served 2.5 million troops between 1942-1945. Food, coffee, and other items were donated to the canteen from a twelve county area. The "AWVS" disbanded in 1945, but succeeding volunteers continued to provide service throughout the Korean Conflict and Viet Nam War. Lima's "Servicemen's Free Canteen" was the longest, continuously operated service canteen in the United States. An estimated four million soldiers, sailors, and marines were served between 1942-1970.
Marker Number: 6-2
County: Allen
Significance of Location: Place
Bicentenial Mark: no
Website address: [Web Link]
Additional Coordinate: Not Listed
Additional Coordinate description: Not listed
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