May 26 – This week, there will be yet another commemoration day: National Doughnut Day.

National Doughnut (a.k.a. “donut”) Day is on the first Friday of June. It started in 1938 as a fund raiser for the Chicago Salvation Army. Their goal was to help the needy during the Great Depression, and to honor the Salvation Army “Lassies” of World War I, who served doughnuts to the troops.

Soon after the U. S. entered into World War I in 1917, the Salvation Army sent a fact-finding mission to France to determine how best to assist the U.S. soldiers in Europe. The mission concluded that “huts” that could serve home-made baked goods, provide writing supplies and stamps, and provide a clothes-mending service, would be the best way to assist.

About 250 Salvation Army volunteers went to France to establish the “huts”. These Salvation Army volunteers were the only women outside of military personnel allowed to visit the front lines. These brave volunteers made home cooked foods, and provided a morale boost to the troops.

Because of the difficulty in providing freshly baked goods from huts established in abandoned buildings near the front lines, two Salvation Army volunteers, Ensign Margaret Sheldon and Lieutenant Colonel Helen Purviance, came up with the idea of deep fried rings of dough with a little sugar on top. The “doughnuts” were an instant success.

So, on Friday, June 3, have a doughnut and remember those folks who put their lives on the line to provide a little taste of home to those brave troops who were putting their lives on the line to protect the U.S.

A legend has spread that the term “doughboy” to describe U. S. infantry personnel, came as a result of the doughnuts. However, the term doughboy was used during the Mexican-American War of 1846-1847.

Family And Friends

On May 21, the Abilene community was treated to a performance by the children's choir from the Patrick Henry Boys and Girls Plantation. This event was co-hosted by the Abilene Homemakers Club and the Abilene Community Club. It was nice to meet the folks from Patrick Henry and to have a chance to learn more about the Patrick Henry Boys and Girls Plantation. And the refreshments were delicious.

The Cardinal Quilt Guild of Prince Edward will hold their last meeting of the season at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 7. The group will begin the new club year in September.

Birthday wishes are extended to Kendall Marston who will be celebrating May 27 and to Millie Bonner, of Cullen, who will be celebrating May 30.

If you have any news or announcements that you would like to share, please call me at 223-2271 or e-mail me at kz5ro@kinex.net.