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Goderich Signal Star, 2017-05-10, Page 7Wednesday, May 10, 2017 • Signal Star 7 community: www.. oderictisi 70 Years of Service The Royal Canadian Legion Ladies' Auxiliary 2017 marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the local Ladies Auxiliary branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. Women had always played a vital role in support- ing those in their country's service in war and peace. During the both world wars, local women's groups played a heroic part in aid- ing the troops at the front. Feminine patriotism pro- vided everything from medi- cal supplies, field kitchens, care packages and extra rations. On June 24, 1947 the inau- gural meeting of the Branch # 109 Ladies Auxiliary was held at the legion hall. The 28 newly initiated members elected Mrs. Norman Miller as their first president. As married women of the era were only identified by their husband's first name, little is known about many of the auxiliary's founding members other than that they joined under the ser- vice numbers of their imme- diate relative who were past or present members of the armed forces. Within a year, dozens of new members swelled the ladies' ranks. Most of them were the wives of ex -servicemen. Still a member 70 years later, Margaret Young, is the last of the founding mem- bers of the Goderich Ladies Auxiliary. Her daughter, Dianne McLean, also a Ladies Auxiliary member, said that her mother who will turn 97 in June is still 'very proud of being a char- ter member' of the Goderich auxiliary. At least one, Mrs. Ken Hunter (Margaret), was an English war bride. At the founding meeting a 'special invitation' was extended to all local war brides to join the auxiliary. In the war's immediate aftermath, the housing shortage; veteran job Huron History David Yates retraining and education, and welcoming war brides and their children to new lives in Canada were of par- amount importance of the Ladies Auxiliary. Yet, the most pressing concern for the Ladies Aux- iliary was the care for disa- bled veterans both in and outside of hospitals. Begin- ning in 1950, they sponsored a shut-in veteran at West- minster Hospital in London through the 'adopt a vet- eran' program. Among the many items the women provided were an ample supply of ciga- rettes to hospitalized veterans. As early as 1949, in what has become a specialty of the local Ladies Auxiliary, they began catering dinners as a fundraiser when they were approached by the Goderich Kinsmen to host their annual meeting. Euchre tournaments, bazaars, card parties, bake sales and tea meetings were other ways the local auxil- iary raised money. Special efforts were made to ensure that the children of veterans' families in need and for those whose father's did not return had Christ- mas gifts. Local Ladies Aux- iliary historian, Karen Draper, said that their'larg- est catering service' was pro- vided at a District Conven- tion in 1953 when 654 dinners were served. As much as fundraising and Remembrance Day parades, advocating for vet- erans' rights, the Ladies Auxiliary provided a social outlet for women who shared a common bond. Only they knew the cares, worries and frustrations of having a relative in uniform. Sarah Carnegie, a lifetime member of the Ladies' Aux- iliary from the Windsor - Walker legion, recalls that during the war when her husband was overseas, the ladies' auxiliary was her support group both during and after the war. The cama- raderie amongst the women was genuine and the friend- ships made were life long according to Carnegie. Like the rest of the Com- monwealth, the local Ladies Auxiliary mourned the pass- ing of King George VI and attended a special service at North Street United Church on February 15, 1952. They also celebrated the coronation of Queen Eliza- beth II, in 1953, by purchas- ing the pictures of the Sover- eign and Prince Philip. The Ladies' Auxiliary activities were not limited solely to veterans' causes. The women raised money for such important causes as Memorial Arena; the Red Cross, and the Can- cer Society. According to Draper, the auxiliaries' 'largest commu- nity project' was "com- pletely furnishing a room" in the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital as well as a hospital beauty salon. In 1968, the Ladies Auxiliary donated three cribs for the 'new' pediatrics wing of the AMGH. By the 1970's, the Goder- ich Ladies Auxiliary had nearly 200 active members. They were a central part of the legion's organization rather than a peripheral group. Joanne Walters in a 1978 `Goderich Signal Star' article reported that the Ladies Auxiliary's member- ship had expanded to include multiple genera- tions of women who wanted to actively serve their community. The women were instru- mental in the helping to fun- draise for the legion's build- ing's 1975 expansion. Sharon Scruton, the cur- rent legion Zone Com- mander, joined the Goder- ich Ladies Auxiliary joined in 1972. Scruton was a third gener- ation member of the auxil- iary. Her father was an RCAF veteran and her mother and Photos courtesy of RCL #109 Ladies Auxiliary Ladies Auxiliary Women (c. 1960) Ladies Auxiliary Colour Party (c. 1960) grandmother were 'very involved' in the legion. Scru- ton said "it was a family thing." She joined because she "liked what the legion stood for—veterans, branch, com- munity and Sovereign." Scruton served as Goderich auxiliary president from 1980-1984. Ann Feagan, the current President of the Ladies' Aux- iliary, joined the organiza- tion in 1982. Feagan's mother was a member, and her brother was a Korean War veteran so legion ser- vice came naturally to her. Feagan says that five zone commanders and one pro- vincial president have come from the ranks of the Goder- ich Ladies Auxiliary, which speaks highly the 'dedica- tion of members' locally. Having served a total of six years as president, Fea- gan is proud of the money the auxiliary has raised for bursaries and awards to the area's four schools; the hos- pital foundation, and vari- ous local causes but she is especially honoured to belong to an organization that continues "to support our veterans" which, in essence, is what the legion's prime purpose remains. Today, the auxiliarywomen are the part of the backbone of the legion' organization. Legion branches across the country would be unable to continue to operate without the leadership of their wom- en's auxiliary. As the Goderich Ladies' Auxiliary of the Royal Cana- dian Legion celebrates their platinum anniversary, it is well to remember their ser- vice to Queen, country and home. The town wishes the Ladies Auxiliary many anni- versaries to come.