Sen. Deb Fischer
U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) on June 8 cheered the U.S. Senate’s unanimous passage of her bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the volunteers and communities in her home state that supported soldiers heading off to fight in World War II.
“This is the highest honor Congress can bestow upon civilians of this country, and everyone from the North Platte Canteen deserves it,” said Sen. Fischer, who sponsored the North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act, S. 645, in February 2025.
The North Platte Canteen was a volunteer war effort at a railroad stop in North Platte, Neb., during World War II where hospitality and friendship were offered to soldiers traveling through the area on their way to the front lines.
The North Platte Canteen, which began on Christmas Day in 1941 and ended on April 1, 1946, was the largest community-based canteen in the United States and one of the largest volunteer efforts during World War II.
An estimated 55,000 people from 125 communities throughout Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas contributed food, money, or time to serve the Canteen’s estimated six million visitors, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Fischer’s staff.
“The Canteen was a beacon of hope for soldiers during such a troubling and uncertain time,” Sen. Fischer said. “Over 55,000 people sustained this effort for over four years, and every soldier that passed through saw the very best of what Nebraska has to offer. I thank my colleagues for understanding the significance of the North Platte Canteen, and for working with me to give them the recognition they deserve.”
S. 645, which has a total of 76 cosponsors, advances to the U.S. House of Representatives, where U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) also introduced a bipartisan companion bill, H.R. 1502, in February 2025.
The Lincoln County (Neb.) Historical Museum and the mayor of North Platte endorsed the measure.