HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1989-11-08, Page 88A — THE HURON EXPOSITOR, NOVEMBER 8, 1989
May We
Always Remember
Their Courage
Owned & Operated
BRUCE WILBEE
& FAMILY
SALUTING
OUR
VETERANS
s
Seaforth
SEA,T•aRWRII 17-6.
SEAFORTH ONTARIO NON !WO (/
TELEPHONE 5270910
527-0910
REMEMBERING
Seaforth
SILLS
527-1620
Spe;;k not of battles
won or lost
But remeli aber those
who fought for you
®J®�'EVEREAUX Chiropractor
77 Main Street Seaforth 527-1242
SUNDAY PARADE -Members of the Seaforth Legion Branch,
with that congregation, The service preceded the Legion's Pop -
156 paraded to First Presbyterian Church on Sunday, where py Campaign. Robinet photo.
they participated in a pre -Remembrance Day church service
Legion has 600,000 Canadian
There are several veterans' organizations
in Canada, the largest of which is The
Royal Canadian Legion, with approximate-
ly 600,000 members.
Prior to World War I, the Armed Ser-
vices in Canada were represented by
regimental associations, scattered units of
various types and one Dominion organiza-
tion: the Army and Navy Veterans of
Canada. Membership in these groups was
limited and mostly restricted to large ur-
ban centres. Their activiities were largely
devoted to discussion of service, national
functions and assisting needy comrades in
distress.
Under varying conditions some 14 or 15
national veterans' groups sprung up bet-
ween 1917 and 1925. They had no united
voice, no united effort. Attempts were
made to coordinate their activities but
each group's objectives seemed different
from the next and thus they often ap-
peared to work at cross purposes.
Finally, in 1925 the Dominion Veterans
Alliance came into existence, spurred by
the plea of one man in particular - Field
Marshall Earl Haig, Commander -in -Chief
of the British Armies. The inspiration and
dedication of men such as Earl Haig and
Genera Sir Richard Turner bore fruit and
the Legion was born. By July 1926 it was
self-supporting:
ALLOWANCE ACT .
•
From its inception, the Legion quite
naturally concerned itself primarily with
the battle for adequate pensions and other
benefits for war veterans and the
dependents of those who had lost their
lives m war. Beneficial changes were ef-
fected but the depression of the 1930s
created a whole host of new problems. The
Legion was constantly involved both in
local endeavors and in nations undertak-
ings ,in efforts to improve the desperate
conditions of veterans in most of Canada.
A significant development in this period
was the introduction of the War Veterans
Allowance Act in 1930. This benefitted
those prematurely aged by their war ex-
periences, but who were not, in most in-
stances, eligible for war disability
pensions.
With the advent of World War II, the
Legion was revitalized by the demands
made upon it and the influx of new
members. The effort, during and im-
mediately after the war was prodigious.
Canadian Legion war services provided
amenities such as entertainment, canteens,
etc., for the serving men, both home and
abroad, including the battlefronts. Cana-
dian Legion educational services provided
members
correspondence courses and tutors to
prepare the serving men for their return to
civilian life.
Following the World War II, the Legion 1
played an important role in assisting all
who had served to secure disability and
other pensions to which they were entitled. '
1800 BRANCHES
It maintains professional service officers
who are trained to investigate claims as ,
well as to prepare and present submissions
of the appropriate pension board of com-
mission. The Legion also deals directly
with the federal government to ensure that
the pensioners are treated fairly, par •
-
ticularly in this time of inflation. The
Legion, with some 1800 branches across
Canada and in West Germany and in the
Tura to page 15
Legion established in November
The "Canadian Legion" was established
in Winnipeg at a national conference of
veterans groups in November 1925. A
fraternal, non-profit organization, the Royal
Canadian Legion (as it became officially
known in 1960) exists to serve the interests
of Canada's war veterans and their
dependents and ex -service members and
their families. The Legion also actively
promotes patriotism, national unity and
remembrance of the contribution Canada's
war -dead made to the building of this
nation.
The Royal Canadian Legion spends
millions of dollars on community activities
across the country and its members con-
tribute thousands of hours of volunteer
time implementing its social service
programs.
Each of the following organizations
benefit from the Legion's. support: The
Salvation Army - Red Shield Drive; The
Red Cross; St. John Ambulance: over 500
Boy Scout, Girl Guide, Cub and Brownie
organizations; and, The United Way/ Red
Feather Campaign.•
In addition the Legion: contributes to
schools and homes for the han.''capped;
through the Ladies' Auxiliary, provides .
over 3475,090 in bursaries and scholarships
for the continued education of 1,00
students (Individual Legion Branches con-
tribute an additional more than $2 million
to local scholarship programs); hosts blood
donor clinics; institutes Big Brothers cam- -:
paigns, operates drop-in centres, day-care
units and kindergartens; provides more
than 3,000 low -rental housing units in over
60 communities; sponsors a national
Turn to page 15 •
Today's Freedom
was won
yesterday
gal/ Cl FaicNee/lt
"g2/x zlezfiaiaga
47 HIGH ST. SEAFORTH 527-1142
NOVEMBER 11
We will not
Forget
A TIME
TO REMEMBER
9 9
Starlight Lanes
45 Market St. 527.0840 Seaforth
-FHuron
xpositor
5270240
37 MAIN 8T.,
SEAFORTH
LEST WE
FORGET
BOX FURNITURE
Main Street, Seaforth, 527-0680
Remembrance Day
SATURDAY,
NOVEMBER 11
Bob & Betty's Variety
Main St., Seaforth
4
527-1680
TOGETHER
WE
REMEMBER
WE ARE FREE
TO CHOOSE
BECAUSE OF THEM
THE ROYAL CANADIAN
LEGION
Branch 156 Seaforth
PRESIDENT — MEI. MEI.ANSON