Times Advocate, 1999-09-15, Page 9Wedneeday,September 15, 1999
Spring and summer prnductive for Exeter
EXETER - The Exeter Branch of the Royal Canadian
Legion has had an hJtere, imaginative and fasci-
nating spm and summer season.
The branch held our elections at the appropriate
time and installed our new 1999-2000 executive* with
the assistance of our honoured guests Zone
Commander Eric Ross and Deputy Zone Commander
Bob Grey.
We presented our years of service pins and medals at
the April General Meeting with the assistance of our
honoured guest and outgoing Zone Commander June
Pyette.
We held our second special initiation day for new
mate members initiating 20 new members and nine
new branch members at the same time for a total of
29. Presently there are now 25 more affiliate members
left to be initiated.
Our branch membership strength with the latest fig-
ures now stand at 462 members, Associates 232,
Ordinary 140, Affiliate 75, Life 13.
Good News, our branch received tax relief in a reduc-
tion of property taxes paid resulting in a saving of
approximately $4,000.
On May 29, we were honoured to attend the 25th
annual inspection of the Huron and Middlesex Royal
Canadian Army Cadets.
On June 15, we enjoyed fellowship and a dinner with
The Snowbirdt held at the branch.
The proceeds from the first and highly successful
Elimination Draw are being used to have the Canada
Room painted and install a new durable tile floor.
The Ladies Auxiliary continued to hold their prosper-
ous bi-weekly bingos and provide funds for charities
and consistently display their good banqueting and
hosting skills.
In sports, the Zone C Mosquito have won a trophy
and two successful mixed golf tournaments were held.
The Legion was once again well represented in the
public speaking area with prize winning achievements
.- in the Youth Education Program.
{ On June 21, at the Exeter Council Chambers Mayor
Ben Hoogenboom presented a plaque to Comrade
Harry Burke, inscribed, The Town of Exeter Pays
Tribute to Ham Burke who was recognized by The
House of Commons, Parliament Windings, Ottawa,
Canada, on February 18, 1997 for his Artistic
Menem Portrait Collection of Exeter and Area men
who lost their lives serving in World War I, World War
and The Korean War. The Portrait Collection called,
"`It. Took a Village" is located at The ILE. Pooley Branch
No. 167 of The Royal Canadian Legion in Exeter.
The R.E. Pooley Branch No. 167 proclaimed and
organized Exeter's End -of -the Century Canada Day
with the participation of the Service Clubs and
Organizations in Town. R was very successful despite
the inclement weather and well received. The highlight
of the evening saw the achievement of what we E i lieve
to be a Legion first, the Time Capsule Dedication
Ceremony with . full participation of the Town and
Community and our Federal Member of Parliament
Paul Steckle and Mayor Ben Hoogenboom. The Time
Chest was artfully crafted by Archive Committee
Chairman Norm Eveland.
The first Tem depicted in the Time Chest was the
Branch History dedicatedly written by Comrade Eric K.
Heywood titled Remembering Seventy Years 1930-
2000. The . book was published in early summer and
has been selling well. There GTO about 83' volumes left
at the present tune.
The Exeter Boy Scarf helped Canada Day with the
sale of Glow Stick Necklaces and are receiving a dona-
tionfrom the proceeds in the amount of $100.
The Branch Archive Committee has been diligently
organizing, displaying and adding to the local memora-
biia coffection with the addition of mannequin, fram-
ing and formal name tags. The latest acquisition by
donation is a 19th century Canadian Horse Artillery
Uniform.
On July 15 we r tan enjoyable BBQ on the Main
Street part of the f AA's Summer Fest Weekend.
For the International Year of the Older Person, the
Exeter Seniors held a successful interdenominational
church smice on June 30, part of the Eve of Canada
Day Celebrations and had the community band and
choir with Bob Heywood for speaker,
The Seniors also donated some money to the Legion
toward Canada Day Entertainment. They also had a
park bench built and placed at the Post Office for all to
use. A group of seniors played some old time games
with the playground children in July, truly a genera-
tional happening.
On August 8, a memorial service was held at The
Exeter Cemetery Decoration day, paying tribute and
remembering our fellow comrades.
We have recently established a Ways and Means
Committee at the branch and are very optimistic about
positive future financial strategies that will be forth-
coming and established with executive approval.
The branch. looks forward to actively participating in
Phases 2 awl Set theM1ute Wave of Silence in
making our community. aware of this Rememfrance
Program. Indeed we have discovered the Original of
the Two Minute Silence, recounted as follows: James
Alfred Eggar was a bit bothered when the local branch
of the National Farmers' Union proposed to hold a car-
nival. It was May 1916, and at a time when so many
British soldiers had been killed in the Great War, it
seemed to him that a carnival was most inappropriate.
He suggested a solution to the matter: for two minutes
there should be a complete silence in memory of all the
men who had died.
This silence was duly observed by 2000 people
assembled in Farmham's Castle Street and some years
later, after the end of the hostilities, Mr. Eggar's idea
was adopted by the Government and became the
Armistice "Silence" which is now observed annually at
11 o'clock on the Sunday nearest to the 11th day of
November.
We are in the planning stages for a memorable and
dignified remembrance Day Service and Banquet. Our
R.E. Pooley Legion Hall houses the Memorial Portrait
Collection by Harry Burke, entitled "It Took A village --
and all are welcome to observe this tribute to our local
men. Also exhibited is an outstanding portrait of
Madame Guerin, which we believe to be the worlcrt
only known portrait of the lady that founded Poppy
Day. Adjacently framed in the history of the origin of
the Poppy as our flower of remembrance that Madame
Guerin was instrumental in establishing.
One more highlight on Youth and the future. The
Legion sponsored title capsule essay contest winners
were all included in our Time Chest.
The R.E. Pooley Branch No. 167 continues our proac-
tive stance in our community, involved in many ways
sometimes "seen" with a high profile and at other
times "unseen" with a low profile but ever present in
the beat of life and always providing companionship
and support to the entire community, all age groups.
In consistence with our motto: of passing the torch
from pride in our past to faith in our future, we fer-
vently desire to have our aim and goal to keep that
torch burning brightly and to keep our Legion Branch
sailing forward strongly and confidently into the 21st
Century and on into the next millennium. We need
member volunteers and new spirit to help continue our
vital mission. Therefore we look back into this 20th
century and paraphrase some of its most famous spo-
ken words, "Ask not what your Legion can do for you,
•
ask what you can do for your Legion".
To expand on a particular donation: Exeter Legion
Pooley Branch No. 167 received a $500 donation from
the Royal Bank. Royal Bank employee and Legion
Branch member Eleanor Ritchie acquired this through
the volunteer employee program sponsored by the
Royal Bank. They displayed their generosity in a ges-
ture towards youth darts.
Donations made by this Branch
are as 1odknvs:
Youth sports $210.48
Cadet Corp $1500.00
Bursary and Foundations $900.00
Youth Education $42.80
Charities ..... • $505.00
Community Groupe $1915.00
Welfare $603.36
Legion Community Band . • $400.00
Total $6074.64.
(March 10A9 -August 18/'99)
Respect telly submitted Tom Ttzrke, Branch P.R. a.
NOTICE
Due to the close proximity of the International
Plowing Math and to support the efforts of the
local committee and volunteers,
McCann Redi-Mix Inc. will be closed on
Wednesday, September 22, 1999 to allow our
L iser`oyees to attend the Match. •
tx:
TIJMES-ADVOCATE
424 Main St., Exeter 235-1331
Cash and carry
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PAces M effect til Sept. 21 /99
Great Specials
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• Baler Twine f)
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*Fence Boards
• Cement Blocks
• Flues
Get in on
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Enter to Win
Round Trip
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Sept. 17
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