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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1979-10-04, Page 29L two Allan Nicholson and Jack Eisler are both, past presi- dents of Seaforth's Branch 156 of the Royal Canadian Legion, both saw service in World War 2 and both are convinced of the value of Legion membership. Jack joined the Legion when he came homefrom the service, where he served two and a half years, including a year in Europe with the Occupation forces, mainly in Holland. "1 was encouraged to join by John Earle, one of our older past 'presidents," he says. Both men really. appreci- ated -gifts from the Legion during the war and Legion sponsored canteens over- seas. "The first war vets raised the money to do that. I; felt 1 should contribute too", Al says: Allan was inthe navy aboard the Lanark and watched two ships nearby blow up in the Atlantic. Comradeship ..: close friendships andrespect for each other, the most import- ant thing, about being:. a Legion member, the two men. say. Along with. its many community service functions the Legion provides a club where members . cane "be among friends", Allan says. Seaforth's ,Legion has a membership of 425, except- ionally. high for a town.; this size. (Mitchell, for example,, with a larger population, has about 125 Legion. members.) And for. four years Infiniti the branch, has won the early bird. membership plaque for. the 'whole province. That's because' nearly .all branch . members , pay their ' dues ahead of time. Twist your arm Al Nicholsonis the -Leg- ion's membership chairman and with the help of associate members Bob Watson and Ken Cardno;maintains this record, and brings in new members. "They twist your arm," Jack Eisler jokes: For : more thantwenty years. the Seaforth., Legion has sponsored ;all of Sea- forth's minor hockey teams: Jack was chairman of that; 1 effort for many years; and estimates at least 180 young boys a year got to play hockey under Legion spon- sorship., The local Legion branch got minor sports "on their feet" after the wary Jack. remembers .4 and started industrial league ball and hockey in Seaforth too._ Severalyears ago, the town took over sponsorship of minor sports because of the provincial grant structure; and now parents pay a nominal fee, to enroll their children in Saturday morning hockey for example: ''1 bet I got 50 calls from people who wanted:. to know why, 'they had to pay after all those years," when Legion spon o ship ended Al Nicholson comments. The Legion still donates annually to Seaforth:'s. recreational program. =50 each Contributions: from Legion war veterans who donated. .the $50 each they received from ,thetown back , to an arena fund formed .the core of the: money that was used to build the present commun- . ity centre, a total of about 513,000, the :r men explain. For many years: the Legion used the arena as their hall. but in 1960 the present • new bu ding. on S. Main. St was erected,with a lot, of .volun- teer help from members. 'Ten• years later after fund raising by Branch and Legion Ladies Auxiliary:., members; • the mortgage was burned. Another highlight of recent Legion years in Sea - forth, Jack and Allan say, is. Frank ` Phillips' display of wartime photos, documents and. uniforms. The display was open to the public during fiftieth ' anniversary cele- brations this 'summerbut both men say it 'deserves a: permanent. home. A movie film was taken at the displayr • and it will be available to the branch. In addition to regularly donating to every charity campaign in town, the. Legion for years has spon- sored public speaking and essay contests and hasgiven bursaries to veterans' child- ren for higher education. Allan. Nicholson points out that Legion Ladies .Auxil- iaries in Ontario give over 31 million in bursariesevery year. Paying tribute to the local Legion. Auxiliary, he adds "a lot of branches wouldn't exist without them." The Legion. donated' 55000' tothe new Seaforth Com- munity Hospital and. for 30 years have carriedon the • Salvation Army fund drive in., town. Legion members don't talk about their war, experiences often, except on November 11, Jack Eisler, says. "And it does bug me when, .people won't remember," adds Al Nicholson. "Nobody wants another war", he points out, but the Legion would really like. the Ontario government to make Remembrance Day a statu- atory holiday as some other provinces have. Now that a generation is • growing up whose parents weren't born during the war, important:. that children understand, the sacrifices servicemen made,both men • say.. Local. schools seem to real- ize this and are doing a fine job in that ;respect,' Jack. Eisler says "probably better now than say' ten years after the war. Respect Jack, who served in Hol- land, and Al . talk about the great respect Canadian ex - servicemen and Canadians in. general enjoy in Holland, the country. , they liberated in 1945. There's a place in Holland where every car stops, for a+!moment every day,, all year long,in a ;gesture of thanks and here I we don't all remember what the veterans°did for us, :Allan ;:says...: '`Canadian didn't . go through'a war, that's why,". Jack Eisler says and both. men shake their heads. Both men are full of praise for the co-operation the Leg- ion receives from Seaforth And Still Barring The years have shown it is what you do best. Thank you for it now. in the past...ond for the future. ank General Contracting. • Washed & Crushed: Aggregates +. Material Handling. • Plumbing • Heating and Electrics) • General Electric Dealer for over 40 years, LEGION ANNIVERSARY SECTION 54. and community, "People are behind! the Legion 100 per cent," they say. Eight or nine years ago the Canadian Legion's Dominion: Command :authorized the addition of sons. and .daugh- .. ters of war veterans as. associate. members, Seaford' now has, 125 of these,awl* local' branch; would; welcome more. As well Branch.,156 has 223 vets, �m the two world wars and a couple, Don Muir and Jim Brown, who' saw action in. Xeres. There are ten honorary members too, people who were invited to join the local legion before associates were allowed. 1 A number of the associate members are very active, :Jack and Al say. "Associate 1 memberships are really agoing over well. The future 'will be in good hands," says Allan Nicholson with a smile. FOUR TIME ONTARIO WINNERS—Seaforth's Legion has won the - province -wide early bird membership contest for 'four years straight.- Holding. -the first three plaques are membership. chairman, Allan Nicholson centre, and Bob; Watson and Ken Cardno. (Photo by Phillips) 1929 SEAFORTH BRANCH 156' ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION fns Me OWN OF SEAFORTH 1979 MAYOR: John Sinnarnon REEVE: DEPUTY REEVE: John Flannery Bill Dale COUNCILLORS: Bruce Hoelscher "Bob Dinsmore: Jim Sills.,!rwin Johnston Henry' Mero ". Gerald Groothui CLERK TREASURER: Jim Crocker POLICE CHIEF: John Cairns FIRE CHIEF: Harry Hak PUC MANAGER: Tom Phillips PUBLIC WORKS FOREMAN: Harvey Dolmage Commission and Staff of the SEAFORTH PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION. Chairman -Gordon Pullman' John Sinnamon (Mayor)` Commitlsion•rs -0ou0 Fryatt. Manager Tom Phillips