Congrats
indeed
by Lois Perepelitz

I have talked about all the work the people of Coronation did for the Red Cross during the war, and now I would like to tell you about the Soldiers Comfort Fund.
This group would raise funds to make ‘comfort’ parcels for the men and women from the community who were in the armed forces and away from home.
These parcels would have things like fruitcake, socks and hankies, copies of The Review and of course tobacco; anything that might be wanted by someone far from home.
The soldiers would send thank you letters and The Review would print them in the paper.
It wasn’t until I read a few of the letters that I realized that this organization was not a national one, as I had thought, but a local one formed by the kindness of the people of Coronation.
This letter from Tom Clark is one that made me aware of this.

March 30, 1944
“ Thanks From The Boys
O. A. S. Feb. 16 1944
To Soldiers Comfort Fund
Your parcel finally caught up with me altho a little late it was very nice to get. The fellas told me not to open it until Christmas, however I’m afraid I beat the gun by eleven months.
Incidentally I saw Ira Laird the day after Christmas, which was rather nice. I also saw Jack Goldfinch about two weeks ago in London, he was on his way back to camp and I had just arrived so unfortunately I only had a few minutes with him. We made a date to play tennis in Coro so everything is OK now.
Well I hope everything is OK in the little town, best of everything to you all and many thanks for the gift.
P.S. Incidentally very few of the boys get gifts from any home town organization, so you people are far ahead of the rest. Congrats.
Tom Clark”

Congrats indeed.
Those parcels would have made those men so proud of their hometown; and seeing how much everyone at home cared must have been a huge boost to their moral.
The parcels were not just for the men overseas. If you were in the armed forces and stationed away from home they sent you a parcel.
One young women had just finished her training and had been sent to Yorkton, Saskatchewan. What a comfort that parcel must have been to her, all alone and in a new place.
It is possible, if I am doing the math correctly, that some folks from that organization could still be with us; if so, I would like to hear from you.
Big bouquets to all.

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