American Red Cross

The Marceline Community has received assistance and supported the Red Cross by finances and volunteer services in all phases of their program. A Red Cross Canteen under the supervision of Mrs. Sig Steiner in World War I. In May 1942, a Red Cross work room for the making of surgical dressings was opened in the basement room of the Carnegie Library. The dress¬ings were shippedtothe war front all over the world where American boys were fighting for the continu¬ance of the American Way of Life. Mrs. W. L. Klein, Mrs. Albert Petska and Miss Olive Barrett were in charge of this service.The citizens of Marceline community made five trips to Kansas City, one trip to Cameron and Chillicothe and sponsored the St. Louis Blood Mobile Unit, to contribute one pint of blood each time for the Red Cross Blood Bank. Red Cross officials in Kansas City commended the Marceline group for its fine patriotic spirit and said no other community over the middle west made a better record in contributing blood to save the lives of our boys. These trips were made in private cars of our people who sometimes used their own “precious” gas stamps to make the trip.Mrs. Albert Petska has been in “Home Service” work of the American Red Cross since 1936 working with the late Wade Patrick of Brookfield, a World War I disabled veteran, and assuming full responsibility in 1951. “Home Service” is the connecting link between the servicemen and their families as authorized by the Adjutant General for all branches of military service. During the WWII and Korean War the calls for services were about 150 each month for various types of services given; such as, emergency leaves, verification of illness or death, financial assistance, etc. The Linn County Chapter American Red Cross has supplied the instructions for the swimming lessons each year in Marceline, has had two classes in First Aid and one class in Home Nursing. They have assisted in several family disasters, such as fire and flood destroying homes. Two ladies from Linn County have taken the “Grey Lady” course and served at the Veterans Hospital at Kansas City, Missouri. They are Mrs. Rex Wickizer of Brookfield, Missouri and Mrs. Albert Petska of Marceline.

Marceline Community Canteen

In May 1944, after several weeks of planning, a group of ladies whose sons or daughters were serving in the Armed Forces, and desiring to do something for the servicemen passing through Marceline on regular or troop trains banded together under the name of Marceline Community Canteen under the leadership of Mrs. Martha Erdman. Any person wishing to assist in serving the food or supplying some were most welcome. The canteen ladies and men would meet the train and serve drinks, sandwiches, cookies and whatever they would have to the servicemen. In July a building was acquired and placed north of the Santa Fe station. The War Dads bought a new-ready-built brooder house and painted and screened it.When the Fourth of July came the canteen was ready to serve the servicemen and a total of 376 were served fried chicken and all the trimmings along with 25 gallons of lemonade and 12 gallons iced tea. It was truly a “homecooked meal just like Mom’s” for all of them. At Christmas time a total of 280 men and women were served a full meal of baked chicken and dressing. Most of the service personnel served that day seemed to be returning to camps rather than to their homes so it was a sober group of boys and girls on the trains. However, many of the persons helping serve the food were parents of boys overseas. “And,” as several of the workers explained it, “We felt so much nearer our own boys by bringing cheer to other boys in uniform.” Many clubs and organizations helped in this worthy project as well as people from all over the community and rural areas. In the period of May 1944 to December 1944, a total of 56,842 servicemen and women were served by the canteen. A total of $1,176.06 cash donations were made to the canteen. The Marceline Community Canteen received many letters of thanks from those service people served as well as from some of the mothers of the men and women.