Yesterday And Today, A Salute to Blyth's 125th Anniversary, 2002-07-31, Page 9THE CI I IZEN, YES'll RD 11 and TODAY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2001 PAGE 9.
Changing times impact Legion structure
In service
Bill Moffitt, front row, left, is photographed with some fellow
soldiers. (Courtesy Brock Vodden)
I ere is probably no other
organization for which the passing
of years and its accompanying
societal change has impacted it so
greatly than the Legion.
Originally a place for veterans and
their families, the Legion in recent
years has opened its membership in
response to the declining number of
surviving veterans.
Yet, for newer members like
Crystal Taylor, a past president of
Blyth Legion Branch 420, what the
Legion was initially about has not
changed. "It's the comradeship. That
sums up the Legion as a whole,"
says Taylor
The Blyth Legion has been in
existence for close to 60 years,
having received its charter in May of
1946: Local veterans, prior to this,
had joined the closest War Veterans
Association. The WVA joined the
British Empire Service League in
1925 with branches in Clinton,
Goderich, Brussels, Wingham and
'Seaforth.
Branch 420's first president was
Dr. C. Kilpatrick, who served as a
medical officer in World War II. The
meetings were held in both the
Memorial Hall, which was built as a
monument to lost veterans, and the
Orange Hall. The present Legion
was built in 1949.
It only took a year to pay off the
debt, but in 1960, the Legion
members made extensive alterations
to the building, so it wasn't until
September of 1962 that they could
hold a mortgage burning.
Three years ago, a major
renovation was done to the
downstairs of the Hall and a window
added. Then Taylor recalls that last
year, volunteers banded together to
paint the building's exterior.
While the Legion Hall is modest
compared to some, Taylor says that
has helped to keep them from
experiencing some of the financial
difficulties being faced by othci
branches. "Unlike others we have
money in the bank. We do well with
what we've got. We are one of the
few in the• zones that actually ha
some money. Our little building pa),
off."
Since its beginning, the Legion
has contributed generously in the
community. They invest "heavily,"
says Taylor, in youth programs, give
to the Blyth Festival, the arena and
made a donation of $5,000 to the
Huron County Pioneer Thresher
Association.
One of the biggest changes in the
Legion in recent years has been the
opening of membership to the
general public.
Originally membership was open
to veterans and their families.
However, with many veterans
passing away, and others getting too
old to continue any level of
community service, the organization
has now invited people with no
veteran ties to become part of the
Legion.
Surviving Blyth Legion veterans
are Stewart Ament, Ralph McCrae,
Jack Blake, Kenneth Campbell, Joe
Chatterton, Charles Dakin, Carman
Haines, Doreen Overboe, Norman
Turnbull, Clare Van Camp, Ray
Vincent and Russell Cook.
The executive today is: seniors.
Shirley Wood; executive, June
Patterson; newsletter, Mel Black;
past president; Crystal Taylor,
executive Ric McBurney; executive,
Mary Lou Stewart; property, Bill
Patterson; first vice-president.
Darrell Wood; president, Thelma
Johnston; sec ciary. Gwen Pappic:
treasurer, Doi, !Thou
Auxiliary
member
proud
to visit
veterans
For Mildred Ament, becoming a
member of the Blyth Legion Ladies
Auxiliary was a way to honour the
war veterans. "It's important to me
that we keep that."
To that end Ament speaks with
pride of the Auxiliary's annual visit
to Parkwood Hospital where they
spend time with veterans, taking
them treats and playing bingo.
A member of roughly 35 years,
Ament, whose husband Stewart is
one of the Legion's few surviving
veterans, says she has enjoyed her
work with the Auxiliary. "One main
thing was when we fundraised for
thelift at the arena. That was big,"
she says.
Involved in many community
activities, such as the now defunct
Rutabaga Festival, the Auxiliary,
however, is experiencing a change
in dynamics similar to many
organizations. "We still have a good
membership, but the younger ones
don't always have the time to take
the interest in things. And a lot of
our other members are aging," says
Continued on page 10
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Modern farming is here to stay and Aylmer Clark is meeting it head
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July 31 - August 31
written by and starring Ted Johns
A Sell Out during Blyth's
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Welcome it home once Franken
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celebrates both Canadian theatre and the human spirit.
August 7 - August 28
written by Michael Healey
L
Canadian , A Theatre
BLYTH
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523-9300 or 1-87740 BLYTH