Dreamsville U.S.A.

Daniel Wallach had enlisted in the United States Army.  He boarded a train Terra Haute, Indiana and was on his way to New York City where he was going to board a ship to Europe to fight the Germans.  As he was sitting in his seat, he was looking out the window at the passing scenery.  The train passed through town through another town and through another town, but then the train made a special stop.

“Dreamsville U.S.A.  Time to deboard the train,” a man said on the loudspeaker.  “Lunch is being served.”

Daniel was very puzzled.  “What’s going on?”

“We are being served lunch,” said the Sargent.  “You need to go grab a sandwich.”

He got off the train.  Soldiers were lined up to get a sandwich from a cart where ladies from the town were handing out to each man.  Daniel stood in line.  When he finally reached the cart, the lady said, “We have peanut butter and jelly, bologna, ham, turkey.”

“How much?” Daniel asked.

“It is already paid for,” said the lady.

“By whom?” Daniel asked.

“By you,” the lady smiled.  “By you serving our great nation and fighting to defend our great land from its enemies.”

“Well,” said Daniel, “peanut butter and jelly is my favorite.”

The lady handed him a sandwich.  “Here you are.  Enjoy.”

He took a bite.

“Wow.  This is the best peanut butter and Jelly sandwich I ever had.”

“I made it myself,” said the lady.

“Well,” he smiled.  “You are a peanut butter and jelly sandwich master.”

“All aboard!” the conductor shouted.

“I hope we meet again,” he tipped his hat to the lady.

“I hope so too,” she smiled.

Daniel boarded the train, and the train departed the station.

Sadly, he never saw Dreamsville again as he was killed in action.

As for Dreamsville U.S.A., the ladies served many servicemen on their way to war only to never see them return.  It was their way of repaying those who gave themselves for a nation we know as the United States of America.  Memorial Day is a day set aside to remember these men (and women) who lost their lives for this nation.

Some of you are saying, “This is such a nice story.  Too bad Dreamsville U.S.A. is one of those fictional towns that you will never be able to visit.”

Well, you can visit Dreamsville U.S.A.  Dreamsville U.S.A. is the town of Dennison, Ohio located halfway between Columbus, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Although the trains no longer stop here, they still pass through, and you can still visit the depot which is now a museum.  You may not be able to get a free sandwich, but there is a small restaurant where you can buy one for yourself.  It is located in the heart of the town in its original location, the same location where a group of amazing ladies came out to serve great sandwiches to those who served in the United States Armed Forces to include those who never passed through Dreamsville U.S.A. again.  (You can read more about the depot and its history at https://dennisondepot.org/.)

On this Memorial Day, let us remember those who died in battle fighting for this nation to include those who passed through Dreamsville U.S.A. with some never returning.

 

The  photos  in  this  articles  are  from  the  Dennison  Depot  in  Dennison,  Ohio.  It  was  here  where  this  story  took  place.  It  is  no  longer  a  active  depot  but  has  been  preserved  as  a  museum.  It  also  has  a  small  cafe.