Happy Independence Day!
Doughnut Girls
Salvation Army Remembers service to soldiers during WWI & WWII
World War I begins
When President Wilson declared war against Germany on April 7, 1917, Americans were psychologically unprepared to participate in the "war to end wars," Evangeline Booth (USA National Commander 1904-1934) summoned a Salvation Army National War Council and created a National War Board to meet the needs of American soldiers. She appointed national, territorial, and provincial war secretaries so that the entire Salvation Army was placed on a war-service basis.
American boys
The Army set up service centers, hostels, adjacent to United States military camps. But Evangeline wanted to do more than serve military in the United States. "American boys are going to France," she said. "We must go with them."
She sent Lt. -Colonel William S. Barker to France to find out how The Salvation Army could best serve the American troops. Barker found that American Expeditionary Forces, upon landing in France, did not go to the front at once.
Soldiers who had expected to be participating in great battles found themselves drilling in mud from morning to night. An epidemic of homesickness spread through the troops.
Send over some lassies
Barker cabled: "SEND OVER SOME LASSIES." Evangeline determined to send only the very best.
The first doughnuts
Supplies had run out and were difficult to buy locally. The only things they could purchase were flour, sugar, lard, baking powder, cinnamon, and canned milk. "What about pancakes?" "No good cold, or without syrup." "Doughnuts?"
The first doughnuts were patted out by hand. A small wood fire was coaxed in a low, pot-bellied stove. A frying pan was used and the first doughnuts were fried "seven at a time."
The tempting fragrance of frying doughnuts drew the homesick soldiers to the hut, and they lined up in the rain, waiting for a taste. The word went around: "If you're hungry and broke, you can get something to eat at The Salvation Army."
The doughnut reminded the soldiers of home and could be made in any kettle over an open fire. But as Herbert Wisbey explains in Soldiers Without Swords: "It was not the delicious home cooking, but the spirit in which it was served that captivated the men".
Doughnut recipe approved by one of the original 'Doughnut Girls'
5 cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 5 teaspoons baking powder, 1 saltspoon salt, 2 eggs, 1 3/4 cups milk, 1 tablespoon lard
The dough must be thoroughly kneaded, rolled smooth and cut into little rings a little less than a quarter of an inch thick. Drop the rings into a fat that is hot enough to brown the doughnut slowly. The fat should be hot enough to bubble when the doughnut is dropped in. Turn the doughnuts several times so that they will brown evenly. Then lift them out, holding them over the kettle a moment to drip the extra fat. Dust with powdered sugar while hot. Yield: four dozen doughnuts.
115 S. Lexington Ave
Covington, VA 22426
Phone: (540) 962-6206 Fax: (540) 962-9634
The Mission:
The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
From the moment that The Salvation Army received its title, its destiny was fixed. It is in fact an army, a force made up of ordinary people who have been inspired by the love of God, and moved to sacrifice their time, talents, finances and much more so that we may continue to serve those in need.
We are comrades in arms in a struggle against hunger, addiction, poverty and human distress. It is an exhausting battle, one that demands the best that men and women can give of heart and mind, of sacrifice and service.
For more than 80 years, The Salvation Army of Covington, Virginia has been engaged in this battle. The Salvation Army continues to provide vital services to our community - working independently or in collaboration with other social service agencies to meet a multitude of needs.
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Covington Corps Officers:
Captain Karl & Janice Dahlin
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