| Show prepare campaign to provide recreation for soldiers sailors 17 proposed plans for clubhouses club houses to be operated for men in the armed services are inspected by first class private stanley P kulik of wilkes barre pa left and W spencer robertson chairman of the united service organization executive board the U S 0 is launching a drive for to maintain recreational centers throughout the country washington soldiers at army camps will have adequate faculties facilities for wholesome entertainment it if a new money raising campaign succeeds six agencies have banded together into the united service organizations for national defense inc to support a nationwide nation wide drive tor for 10 the money will be used to provide clubhouses club houses and off post recreation tor for soldiers and sailors according to walter hoving president agencies operating cooperating co in this drive are the national travelers aid association salvation army national catholic community service the jewish welfare board the Y M C A and the Y W C A although general solicitation of funds will begin june 3 gifts from wealthy individuals and corporations are already being sought it is planned to provide club facilities cili ties in localities near camps naval stations and defense centers throughout the country buildings will be provided by the federal government ern ment while the U S 0 will supply the funds for their operation hoving explains that the problem is to provide friendly and wholesome contacts between persons in civilian and military life in general the program will include religious services personnel counsel and guidance social events including dances home hospitality club facilities reading and writing rooms and overnight sleeping quarters the need for recreational facilities arises from the enormous enlargement lar gement of our armed forces hov ing said more than young americans are now in uniform many are in huge training centers built in haste to meet a national emergency soldiers sometimes outnumber by five to ten times the adult population of nearby near by towns and villages when soldiers go into town by the thousands evenings and weekends hoving continued there is often no place for them to go nothing to do no morale building recreation rea tion boys stand aimlessly on the sidewalk wondering what to do and those who seek to exploit the boys sometimes viciously are eager to supply the answer the united service organization is seeking to provide other alternatives to trainees and youths of defense industries we plan to bring them a measure of the hospitality the spiritual influence and the comfort which the people at home want them to have hoving continued costs of the first years operations will be met by the fund donations will not necessarily bt be spent in the same areas from which the money is obtained but will be distributed according to the urgency of need in various parts of the country |
