#FlashbackFriday: Some Slices of History Honoring National Sandwich Day
Thursday, Nov. 3, was National Sandwich Day, but Flashback Friday has never been averse to leftovers, especially when it comes to sandwiches.
Why Nov. 3? It’s the birthday of John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, who reportedly invented his namesake food when he was hungry and asked his servants to bring him meat between two slices of bread. Montagu was born in 1718, so if he did invent the sandwich, it’s been around a while.
The Exchange has had some sort of food service since 1895. Associates have delivered sandwiches to those who serve, including during the Berlin Airlift of 1948-49, when food trucks from the Berlin Exchange would deliver sandwiches and drinks to the tarmacs for American pilots participating in the airlift. Cafeterias and restaurants offered sandwiches on their menus.
But some restaurants are more sandwich-specific. Above is a photo of troops at an Exchange-operated Subway in Camp Doha, Kuwait, circa 2003. Below, we sandwich in some snapshots from the archives.
Pictured: a Robin Hood Sandwich Shoppe & Deli, Edwards AFB, Calif., 1997. Along with Anthony’s Pizza and Frank’s Franks, Robin Hood was one of three Exchange-exclusive restaurants developed in the mid-1980s. The first one opened May 1, 1985, at Randolph Air Force Base.
Pictured: Service members outside a Subway in Camp Victory, Iraq, circa 2005. On Sept. 13, 2004, the Exchange opened Iraq’s first Subway at Camp Specher in Tikrit. Troops lined up for the new restaurant, which rang up $930 in sales during its first four hours.
For Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, AAFES opened hundreds of name-brand restaurants throughout the Middle East and Southwest Asia to give warfighters that special “taste of home.”
Pictured: Customers at an Exchange Charleys restaurant. The Exchange opened its first Charleys, now known as Charleys Philly Steaks, in 1999. In 2011, Charleys opened its 100th Exchange location at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. You can also celebrate Charleys on March 24, which is National Cheesesteak Day.
Sources: Exchange Post archives, Exchange History Flickr, National Day Calendar (www.nationaldaycalendar.com)
I miss Robin Hoods. One of my favorite lunch stops while on active duty.
Hi Chris, sorry to bother you.
Do you remember the Little John, Maid Marian, and the Sheriff of Nottingham subs and what went on them at Robin Hoods.
I’m throwing a Robin Hood party and want to have a sub platter. I just can’t find a menu with those subs on it.
Thank you
John.