H.R. 1502: North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act

This bill is known as the North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act and aims to honor the individuals and communities that volunteered or contributed to the North Platte Canteen during World War II. The Canteen operated from December 25, 1941, to April 1, 1946, serving approximately 6 million U.S. troops who were traveling across the country during the war. Here’s an outline of what the bill entails:

Findings

The bill states several findings regarding the North Platte Canteen:

• Home-front volunteer efforts were essential to the U.S. victory in World War II.
• The North Platte Canteen represented one of the largest volunteer undertakings during the war.
• This Canteen provided morale-boosting support by offering food and entertainment to servicemen.
• It operated at the Union Pacific Railroad station in North Platte, Nebraska, without federal assistance.
• The Canteen was set up in response to a request by citizens who wanted to support troops passing through their town.
• Volunteers from various communities contributed significantly, and over the Canteen's operation, they served food to many troops.

Awarding the Gold Medal

The bill authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to the volunteers and their communities. The presentation will be arranged by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate. The design of the medal will be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury.

Display and Duplication of the Medal

Once presented, the gold medal will be given to the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte, where it can be displayed and used for research. Additionally, the Secretary may create and sell bronze duplicates of the medal to cover the costs associated with the medals, including production expenses.

Status of the Medals

The medals created under this bill will be considered national medals as defined in U.S. law and treated as numismatic items.

Funding

The costs of the gold medal will be covered by the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund. The revenue generated from selling the duplicate bronze medals will also be deposited into this fund.

Relevant Companies

None found.