The Citizen, 1996-05-22, Page 6Seeing black and white
Michael Walsh, second from left, was the proud recipient of a plaque and cheque from the
Blyth Legion for his District C first place finish in the black and white Remembrance Day
poster contest. Walsh also received a certificate for competing at the provincial level.
Presenting him with the awards are, from left: Blyth Legion President Gord Haggitt, Blyth
Public Relations Officer Mary Lou Stewart and Deputy Zone C-1 Commander June Pyette.
Thanks
Pat Jenkins presented a cheque from the Blyth Legion to
Blyth Public School student Ashley Howson to help cover
the costs of swimming at Vanastra.
PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1996
Legion celebrates
50 years of service
Blyth Legion is celebrating 50 years of service on
May 24.
Branch 420 of the Royal Canadian Legion was
chartered on May 29, 1946 with a membership of 19
veterans.
The first meeting of veterans to form a Legion
was held in Borden Cook's egg grading station.
When the meetings became too crowded they were
held in the Memorial Hall and continued there until
the "Legion Home" was built (somewhere along the
way that term has been lost). Construction was all
volunteer labour and every Legion member did his
share.
The Basement was low with a dirt floor but after
some years the building was raised and a floor put
in as it is today. This again was all volunteer labour
by all members.
The kitchen and the corresponding enlargement of
the downstairs came at a later date.
Presidents through the past years include:
C. D. Kilpatrick, 1946; A. Maddock, 1947;
G. McNall, 1948; L. Rooney, 1949; B. Smith, 1950;
E. Bell, 1951-52; W. Thompson, 1953;
T. Thompson, 1953-54; C. Vincent, 1955-56;
B. Cook, 1957-58; W. H. Badley, 1959-60;
D. Sprung, 1961-62; W. Riehl, 1963-64;
H. Gibbons, 1965-66; R. McCrea, 1967-70;
L. Rooney, 1971-72; T. Thompson, 1973-74;
E. Lapp, 1975-76; W. Riehl, 1977-78;
H. Pattison, 1979-80; R. McCrea, 1981-82;
J. Chatterton, 1982-83; J. Chalmers, 1984-85;
W. Vincent, 1986-87; J. Battye, 198-89;
K. Lapp, 1990-91; D. Dougherty, 1992-93;
G. Haggitt, 1994-96.
Since its founding in January 1948, the Ladies
Auxiliary has been a constant help to the Branch in
supporting Legion activities such as Legion Week,
the Bursary Program, Track and Field Programs,
Youth Education, the Adopt-A-Vet Program at
Parkwood Hospital in London, Zone-District and
Dominion Convention.
Today with a combined membership of 350,
community projects such as local minor sports
programs, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, local
hospitals, Senior Day Care programs, the Blyth and
District Community Centre, preservation of the
Memorial Community Hall, the annual Fishing
Derby, and the Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion are
supported by the Legion and Auxiliary.
On May 24 at 6 p.m. a dinner is planned to
celebrate 50 years of service to the veterans, their
families, and the community of Blyth at the Blyth
Community Centre. Dancing will follow at 9 p.m.
with Tiffin's Orchestra, with the public being
welcome. Tickets are available by calling the
Branch at 523-9535 after 3 p.m., Gord Haggitt 523-
9612, or Bob McInnes 523-9641.
Cheerfully accepting the donation
A large group of happy, but soggy runners stopped briefly at Grand View Restaurant,
Bly;h to accept a $500 donation from Blyth Legion representative Pat Jenkins for the
Torch Run for Special Olympics.
Contras ution
Students at Hullett Public Central School are able to go
swimming at Vanastra this year thanks to a contribution
from the Blyth Legion. Presenting the cheque to Neil
Salverda and Michael Moore, is Pat Jenkins.