Public performance of I’ll Be Home for Christmas for the Severns Valley Senior Adult luncheon. A nostalgic journey to Christmas of the 1940s.

Performance of Encore History’s 1940’s Christmas show, I’ll Be Home for Christmas for Thomas Hood Veterans Center. Contact THVC for performance details.

Performance of Sentimental Journey: Songs that Brought the Boys Home for Thomas Hood Veterans Center in Wilmore, KY.

Live performance of Sentimental Journey: North Platte Canteen and live entertainment for Pals Brewing Company in North Platte, NE.

Music and show include Encore History’s classic Sentimental Journey show, plus all-new scenes inspired by the miracle of the North Platte WWII Canteen and Bob Green’s book, Once Upon a Town.

On December 17, 1941, North Platte, Nebraska, residents gathered with presents and baked goods at the town’s Union Pacific Depot; they had heard rumors that a troop train carrying their local boys would be coming through. When the train stopped, soldiers from Kansas, not Nebraska, stepped off the train. Despite her disappointment at not seeing their own boys, one local stepped forward and presented her gifts anyway. Everyone else followed. The soldiers were overwhelmed, and their gratitude sparked an idea. The residents of North Platte and the surrounding communities followed the lead of their ancestors in World War I by opening a Canteen at the depot. This canteen lasted for 54 months, involved 55,000 volunteers, and served more than 6 million service men and women during its duration. It was one of the largest and farthest reaching volunteer efforts of World War II.

Hear first-hand accounts of stories and live music from the Canteen and USO shows during the war to see how music helped “bring the boys home” during WWII.

Live performance of Sentimental Journey: North Platte Canteen for the Lincoln County History Museum’s Heritage Festival in North Platte, NE.

Inspired by the real-life miracle of the North Platte Nebraska Canteen during WWII and Bob Green’s book, Once Upon a Town.

On December 17, 1941, North Platte, Nebraska, residents gathered with presents and baked goods at the town’s Union Pacific Depot; they had heard rumors that a troop train carrying their local boys would be coming through. When the train stopped, soldiers from Kansas, not Nebraska, stepped off the train. Despite her disappointment at not seeing their own boys, one local stepped forward and presented her gifts anyway. Everyone else followed. The soldiers were overwhelmed, and their gratitude sparked an idea. The residents of North Platte and the surrounding communities followed the lead of their ancestors in World War I by opening a Canteen at the depot. This canteen lasted for 54 months, involved 55,000 volunteers, and served more than 6 million service men and women during its duration. It was one of the largest and farthest reaching volunteer efforts of World War II.

Hear first-hand accounts of stories from the Canteen and entertainers during the war to see how songs helped “bring the boys home” during WWII.

Preview of our new WWII show version—Sentimental Journey: North Platte Canteen for Hardin County Public Library.

Inspired by the real-life miracle of the North Platte Nebraska Canteen during WWII and Bob Green’s book, Once Upon a Town.

On December 17, 1941, North Platte, Nebraska, residents gathered with presents and baked goods at the town’s Union Pacific Depot; they had heard rumors that a troop train carrying their local boys would be coming through. When the train stopped, soldiers from Kansas, not Nebraska, stepped off the train. Despite her disappointment at not seeing their own boys, one local stepped forward and presented her gifts anyway. Everyone else followed. The soldiers were overwhelmed, and their gratitude sparked an idea. The residents of North Platte and the surrounding communities followed the lead of their ancestors in World War I by opening a Canteen at the depot. This canteen lasted for 54 months, involved 55,000 volunteers, and served more than 6 million service men and women during its duration. It was one of the largest and farthest reaching volunteer efforts of World War II.

Hear first-hand accounts and songs from the Canteen and USO shows of the 1940s and see how songs “brought the boys home” during WWII.

See our WWII page for full show description.

Preview of our new WWII show version—Sentimental Journey: North Platte Canteen for RobinBrooke Senior Living.

Inspired by the real-life miracle of the North Platte Nebraska Canteen during WWII and Bob Green’s book, Once Upon a Town.

On December 17, 1941, North Platte, Nebraska, residents gathered with presents and baked goods at the town’s Union Pacific Depot; they had heard rumors that a troop train carrying their local boys would be coming through. When the train stopped, soldiers from Kansas, not Nebraska, stepped off the train. Despite her disappointment at not seeing their own boys, one local stepped forward and presented her gifts anyway. Everyone else followed. The soldiers were overwhelmed, and their gratitude sparked an idea. The residents of North Platte and the surrounding communities followed the lead of their ancestors in World War I by opening a Canteen at the depot. This canteen lasted for 54 months, involved 55,000 volunteers, and served more than 6 million service men and women during its duration. It was one of the largest and farthest reaching volunteer efforts of World War II.

Hear first-hand accounts and songs from the Canteen and USO shows of the 1940s and see how songs “brought the boys home” during WWII.

See our WWII page for full show description.

Please stay tuned for more details on this event impacted by a family loss.

Catch the preview of our new WWII show version—Sentimental Journey: North Platte Canteen.

Inspired by the real-life miracle of the North Platte Nebraska Canteen during WWII and Bob Green’s book, Once Upon a Town.

On December 17, 1941, North Platte, Nebraska, residents gathered with presents and baked goods at the town’s Union Pacific Depot; they had heard rumors that a troop train carrying their local boys would be coming through. When the train stopped, soldiers from Kansas, not Nebraska, stepped off the train. Despite her disappointment at not seeing their own boys, one local stepped forward and presented her gifts anyway. Everyone else followed. The soldiers were overwhelmed, and their gratitude sparked an idea. The residents of North Platte and the surrounding communities followed the lead of their ancestors in World War I by opening a Canteen at the depot. This canteen lasted for 54 months, involved 55,000 volunteers, and served more than 6 million service men and women during its duration. It was one of the largest and farthest reaching volunteer efforts of World War II.

Hear first-hand accounts and songs from the Canteen and USO shows of the 1940s and see how songs “brought the boys home” during WWII.

See our WWII page for full show description.

Join the annual CVMA Spring Fling at Elizabethtown, KY American Legion.

Vendor booths and Encore History’s WWII rendition of the National Anthem start at 9 AM.