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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1985-11-06, Page 11Seaforth Legion looks ahead BY PATRICK RAFTIS In the public perception, the Royal Canadian Legion, especially at this time of year with Remembrance Day drawing near, is a symbol of the past. Many people see the Legion only as a link with the embattled days of the two World Wars -- a living monument to fallen comrades. • This image, while accurate, is incomplete. It embodies only the first half of the organization's long-standing motto, "Pride in our past -- faith in our future." Founded in 1926, as an amalgamation of existing veterans' organizations, it was designed to help veterans of the big wars to re -adjust to civilian life. While assistance to veterans and their families remains an integral part of the organization's activities, the Legion's mandate has expanded to include a larger community. in keeping with the "Faith in our future," portion of their motto, the Legion has expanded to the point where it is now Canada's largest service organization, with 600,000 members and affiliates in more than 1,600 branches across Canada. • To grow at the rate it has, the Legion has, had to continually revamp its membership criteria, The regular membership, which consists of war veterans and former and serving members of the regular and reserve armed forces and the RCMP, continue to be a dominant factor, but, there has been an additional shot in the membership arm. As Don Eaton, treasurer of the Seaforth Legion Branch, puts it: "If we don't have another war, we're going to run out of veterans," Therefore, associate members, first ap- proved at a 1972 Dominion Convention and granted voting privileges in 1980, have become an increasingly important part of the membership. In 1980, only sons or daughters of those whp had served in the wars were granted full privileges, but in 1982 this category was expanded to include spouses, widows and widowers of life and regular members. Honorary and affiliate members make up the rest of the Legion roll call. These members, while active in Legion functions, have no voting privileges. Seaforth Legion President Jack Muir predicts the status of both associate and affiliate members will eventually be upgrad- ed within the organization. The Legion today... "is basically a service Club,"... with plenty of attractive activities "I would think associate members would be moved up to ordinary members," said Mr. Muir, adding this change could come as early as the next Dominion Convention, in June, 1986. "Or it could be five years down the road," saidMr. Eaton, Also "down the road a bit," is the possibility of granting full privileges to affiliate members, both men agreed. Such changes could eventually be neces- sary to, "keep the Legion going," said Mr. Muir. Between them, associate and affiliate members currently make up over half the membership of the Seaforth branch. Of 489 members, 18 are life members, 186 have been in the service, 172 are associate members and 102 are affiliates. To Our Fallen Heroes Cenotaph - erected by the Town of Seaforth to the memory of those from this district who made the supreme sacrifice in the great war of 1914-1918. "Their name shall live forever more." 1939 Arnold Archibald, Van R Bell, James Broadfoot, Harold Chesney, Frank Casson, Frank Devereaux, Arthur Raiser, William Greig, William A. Graham, Hector Lamont. 1945 John Miller, Howard McTavish, Harry Mclver, John McSpadden, Robert McCal- lum, Norman McQuaid, Clarence O'Reilly, Frederick O'Leary, Robert Papple, C. Mel- ville Shannon. 195053 Korea Francis N. Cluff, James J. Hutchinson, J. Scott Hays, William Hart, W. Stanley Hays, George Mulholland, Arthur McLean, Arthur C. Neely, John J. Purcell, RE. Rivers, J. Leslie Reid, Manson Reeves, Charles Rolph, Clarence W estcott, Frederick Weir, Douglas Calder, Herbert Chapman, Rollo E. Cook, Thomas Edgar, Samuel H. Dorrance, A. W . Archibald. Bernard Brown, John E. Bullard. Remembering Thomas E. Govenlock, William H. Hall, Clarence S. Garden, George Weiland, . Francis Weiland, John Mcleod, Clifford Ruffell, A.T. Parke, E. Cecil Dilling, Albert Bates, James Horan, James Spearpoint, Percy Vanner, Robert I. West, Charles McNamara, James Jamieson, Russell G. • Scott. Both 1984 and 1985 marked major anniversaries forCanada's veterans, because 40 years had passed since D -Day and VE -Day respectively. Everywhere, veterans and their sacrifices were front-page news, as newspapers and television networks scrambled to cover commemoration ceremonies here and in Europe. But what happens when there isn't a major anniversary? it is in these years that the national poppy campaign organized by The Royal Canadian Legion takes on special significance: the Legionnaires you see standing on street corners are country -wide reminders of sacrifices made decades ago. The campaign is also a reminder of veterans who aren't so fortunate, who are• unable to stand on the corner because physical problems have put them in hospitals and nursing homes The money raised through the 12 million poppies distributed each year not only aids Canada's less fortunate veterans, but it also reminds Canadians that some men and women are still paying for their wartime service --even though the Second World War ended more than 40 years ago And the poppy campaign helps us remember those young Canadians --more than 112.000 of them --who never did return home after Canada's wars ended Facts about the Canadian Legion Number of Branches Canada 1750. t' S A 41, West Germany 2 Number of Legion members and Fraternal Affiliates. 603.000 Number of ladies' Auxiliary Members. 90.000 More than $1 million is spent annually on youth activities: Army, Sea and Air Cadets, Roy Scouts. Girl Guides land related groups I. Minor Hockey. Baseball. Track and Field, Soccer, Lacrosse. Swimming. Figure Skating,Bohdng. Sporting events for the handicapped. Branches spend about $5 million annually cm community activities. A national track and field meet with coaching clinics is held each year for youths 17 years of age and under. SC.HOLARSHiPS ANi) BL'R.SAR1FS Dominion Command has allocated $105.000 each year for fellowships to train doctors and nurses in geriatric medicine. In addition to programs carried out by provincial commands and ladies' auxiliar- ies, Legion branches contribute more than $200,000 per year. MEDICAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES Mount Pleasant Branch in Vancouver has contributed $725,000 over three years to establish a geriatric unit in family practice at the University of British Columbia. Pacific Command supports a Chair of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia valued at $40,000 per year. Ontario Command has provided $175,000 towards a University of Toronto investiga- tive program into urinary incontinence. Alberta and N. W . T. Command is sup- porting a Chair in Geriatric Medicine at the University of Alberta at the cost of $142.500 over a three year period. The Legion today is "basically a service club," said Mr. Muir, with plenty of activities attractive to younger non -veteran members. "We do get involved in the community," said Mr. Muir, "through such activities as minor sports, public speaking contests, Co-operating with the Salvation Army, and granting bursaries to students wishing to further their education. Mr. Muir defines the Legion as an "altogether different type of dub," from such organizations as the lions or the Kinsmen. "We don't go out and canvass for members," he said. However the Legion provides a wide range of recreational activities geared toward younger partici- pants. Slow -pitch tournaments, curling, golf, darts, euchre, and monthly socials are all events which make the Legion a fun place to be. In addition, "The hall upstairs is always active," Mr. Muir said, as the Legion Ladies Auxiliary caters to suchevents as weddings and community dances. Many of the Legion's charitable activities go unnoticed by the public, because the organization tends to keep a lower profile on their good works than most service dubs. Mr. Eaton compares the Legion's unobtru- sive attitude on charitable contributions to that of such secretive organizations as lodges and fraternities. "It's like the Masonic Lodge, they don't really say what they're doing." None -the -less, the Legion is always there with a helping hand when needed. Locally, the Seaforth Legion is an ardent supporter of the local hospital and contributed to the purchase of a wheelchair -lift van for Huron - view Nursing home, in Clinton. There is no directive from Dominion Command, ordering local branches to keep their charity work quiet, said Mr. Muir. It's just the way the group likes to do it, he said, Despite the modern service dub -type profile of the Legion, the group is still most visible on and around November 11, as they sell poppies and parade at cenotaphs in honor of veterans who died in battle. Remembrance Day still means much to them. "It's just too bad the government doesn't proclaim it a holiday," said Mr. Muir, pointing out that holidays are celebrated for much less important occasions in his opinion. "After all, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them (the veterans)," he said. LEST WE FORGET BALL Et FALCONER FUNERAL HOMES LTD . BOX FUNERAL CHAPEL 527-1142 C.D. DENOMME DIRECTORS M.S. FALCONER WE ARE FREE T O CHOOSE BECAUSE OF THEM FRANK KLING LTD. Seaforth 527-1320 A MOMENT'S SILENCE FOR A LIFETIME OF FREEDOM A TIME TO REMEMBER PIZZA TRAIN Seaforth 527-0180 THE HURON EXPOSITOR, NOVEMBER 6, 1985 — All Landers eields' by John McCrae In danders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row ET'hat mark our place and in the sky I'he larks still bravely singing fly, Scarce heard amidst the guns below Vie arethe dead, E,Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow T,oved and were loved, and now we lie �Tn Flanders fields fake up our quarrel with the foe jo you from failing hands we ,throw The torch 'be yours to hold it high E ye break faith with us who die WWe will not sleep though poppies grow En j'landers fields. SALUTING OUR VETERANS HOFFMEYER'S MILL Seaforth 527-0910 IT TAKES . JUST A MOMENT TO REMEMBER 1D BANK TORONTO -DOMINION BANK where people make the difference Seaforth 527-1460 AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN... AND IN THE MORNING WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM .. . 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