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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1982-09-15, Page 30...or SAVE with Cash BONUS COUPONS tr PAGE 12Ar-CODER CH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1982 September 1 BY CAROLYN HOLBORN, "Towards tomorrow to - SECRETARY, day" is a slogan which- in - BRANCH 109 dicates the Legion's future During the week of and can be as broad as Septembern19 to Septemberkof anyone's imagination and as 25 ver 630 Brancheof the boundless as its members' energy. While our prime Royal, Canadian Legion in reason for being MUST be the Province of Ontario will our commitment to the celebrate Legion Week with veterans and their depen- various informative and dents, we must continue -to entertaining functions. This perpetuate the memory and is a week in which we, as deeds of the fallen and those members of the Legion, who will die in the future. As well, we must continue to assist every Canadian citizen within our local com- munity and with the admis- sion of younger members in- to the Legion, our involve- ment in the community can and should be endless. Contrary to the beliefs of many in the community that the Legion is "just another hotel", the Legion provides many services to the com- munities all across Ontario and in fact, all across Canada. In some of the larger centres, low rental housing developments are offered by the Legion for senior citizens and ex - service personnel. Bursary and scholarship programs are offered annually for stu- dent education. Another of the Legion's Youth Educa- tion Programs is the spon- sorship of literary composi- tions, poster contests and public speaking contests for students each year. Amateur , sports programs for our youth including hockey, baseball and track and field are sponsored ..by various branches with still more sup- port given to civic facilities. Funds are given regularly for medical research and hospital equipment as .well -had esta`blished._itseir as a ` as.. the..xnaiiy... citari�taii)ne.:. remember why we are members and try to project the many good deeds that we do into the community. Goderich Branch 109 and the Ladies' Auxiliary will mark Legion Week by holding a Decoration Day Service at Maitland Cemetery on Sunday, September 19. On Tuesday, September 21 members of the Branch and the Ladies' Auxiliary are invited to share in a potluck supper in the Jubilee Room. An Open House at the Branch is scheduled for Thursday, September 23 to which all citizens of the Town of Goderich are invited. On Saturday, September 25 Legion Week will be conclud- ed with a dance at which time a loan burning ceremony will be held. 'The Legion in Canada goes back as far as the 1920s when there was unrest in Canada. For thousands of war veterans these were years of struggle and disillusion- ment. In order to get action on very real grievances, several veterans' groups amalgamated in 1925 to become known as The Cana- dian Legion of the British Empire Service . League. Within two years, the, Legion vigorous, effective voice of the veteran in approaching the Canadian Government for financial- aid . for its members. In 1930 a major breakthrough was made with the passing of the War Veterans Allowance Act. During World War II the ' Legion carefully noted what would be needed toavoid the sad rehabilitation of the WW foundations. Hospital. funds have been established to assist in the needs and care of our veterans in hospitals such as Parkwood (Westminster) in London. Locally, over the past 18 months more than $30,000 has been spent by Branch 109 for, many worthwhile com- munity projects. Some of the local recipients of this 11 veterans and a package of money are minor baseball, legislative benefits known as. the Alexandra Marine and the Veterans Charter was General Hospital, Parkwood passed for the benefit of Hospital, Girl Guides, Fami- these veterans, ow • The . ly` and Children's Services, years, the Legion has Goderich and District developed the reputation of Association for the Mentally being reasonable in its Retarded, Arthritis Society, demands and for this reason, C.N.LB., Huron County the ' legislators have con- Lung Association, March of timed . to help improve Dimes, Canadian Mental veterans' legislation. . Health Association, Cana - The Royal Canadian dian Heart Fund, Easter Legion is one of 43 organza- Seal Society, Salvation Ar - tions in the British Comemy, Goderich Laketown monwealth Ex -service Band, Goderich Music League .. which provides Boosters, Huron Day Center assistance to ex -service men for the Homebound, and women throughout the Homestead Group Home, Commonwealth and it has Queen Elizabeth School, plus raised over $250,000 toward many many more. Over the million dollar welfare 15,E has gone out to local fund. students in the form of bur - to 25 is Legion Week in Ontario series and scholarships and beginning in 1983, a new award in the name of Neil Shaw will come into being at G.D.C.I. with sponsorship by Branch 109. We have agreed to sponsor a minor hockey team this coming fall and it is hoped that this team, as the last Legion -sponsored team was, will be successful. The Sick and Visiting Com- mittees of both the Branch and the Ladies' Auxiliary remember all members if they are hospitalized or sick at home and each Christmas, parcels are given to all widows of veterans. Each month parcels . of useful items are sent to the veterans in Parkwood Hospital in London. Each year the Branch and the Auxiliary jointly sponsor a fishing trip and a Christmas party for the veterans at Parkwood Hospital. So you see, both the veterans and thecoinmunity benefit from the varied programs of Goderich Legion Branch 109. Just a few of our public fund-raising events locally are the annual Poppy Drive, our Ladies' Auxiliary Tag Day, bazaars and garage sales, , Legion Hall rentals, bingo and the sale of Nevada Tickets. As well, many in, house activities ranging from dances, special enter- tainment and draws to the provision of Club facilities for Legion members and their guests help toraise the funds for our many wor- thwhile projects. Membership in the Legion has changed significantly since the inception of the organization 1n the --1920s. - Originally only veterans (Regular Members) were given the privilege of joining the Legion. Thep as time passed, the k, Honorary Membership was introduced to members of the communi- ty who were not eligible to be a Regular Member but who assisted outstandingly in the advancement of Legion pur- poses and objects by giving time and work. This type of membership must be recom- mended by the Branches and approved by Provincial Command and terminates on December 31 of each year. In the 1960s the Fraternal Membership was brought in- to being for persons not eligi- ble for Regular Member- ship. This type of member- ship is . for social and educa- tional purposes only and -' they have no right to vote, hold office, attend meetings. or wear Legion dress or,in- signia. Fraternal Affiliate Membership, like the Honorary Membership, ter- minates on the 31st day of December each . year and reapplication must be made. In the early 1970s the Associate Membership was introduced into the Legion. Associate Members must not be eligible for Regular Membership and must be the son or daughter of a Regular Member or a person who is or was eligible to be a Regular or Life Member. Adopted step -children are in- cluded in this category. At the Dominion Convention in Quebec City in June 1982, the wives or widows of veterans were included in this category. Initially, Associate Members had no vote but in 1978 this right was given to them. In 1980 Associates were given full rights with privileges of voice, vote and to hold office at all levels.' Non-voting Associate Membership is open to any person not eligible for Regular Membership who has not less than three mon- ths active service in Allied forces or a member of the Trooper Mike Leamington, 19, repairs ,the skirt covering the track on his Leopard tank dur- ing a break in the action, in Hohenfels, West Germany, near the Czechoslovakia border. Trooper Lennington, sonof Wayne and Pauline Lenninggttoon of Goderich, is stationed with the Royal Canadian Dragoons, an armored regiment, at1Canadian Forces Base Lahr, West Germany. This routine maintenance was completed following a day of manoeuvers during the 1982 NATO fall series of exercises. All units of four Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group and one Canadian Air Group based in West Germany, are involved in the exercise that con- tinues until the end of September. (Canadian Forces Photo) U.S.A. forces serving in Canada, Anyone interested in join- ing the Legion can come to the Open House on September 23 where our Membership Chairman will have a table set up to answer any questions. It is said that behind every successful man stands a woman and we feel that this is certainly the case in our organization, especially at our own Branch. Our Ladies' Auxiliary has stood behind us for the past 35 years since their inception.. Membership in the Ladies' Auxiliary is open to any woman whose services were terminated under conditions other than dishonorable; or a woman who is the wife, widow, mother, sister or grand- daughter (who has attained the age of majority) of any person whose services • were terminated under conditions other than dishonorable; or any person who is the wife or daughter of an. Associate Member (voting) or of a per- son who is or was eligible to be an Associate Member (voting). In Ontario there are 401 Auxiliary units attached to our Branches with a membership of over 32,000. Each year bursaries are awarded across the province totalling $125,000 which is supported by all of the Aux- iliaries. Besides the provin- cial bursaries, the Ladies' Auxiliary to Branch 109 assist us financially with our local bursary. Annual con- tributions are made to the Ontario Command Service Bureau operation as well as to many local charitable foundations. Most Aux- iliaries have an active sports program for their members and last, but not least, they support the many Branch projects and activities. For as long as there have been war casualties, there have been ways of remembering them. The present day Remembrance Day Service represents one variation of this very old custom. November 11 took on the special significance it has today when the hostilities of the First World War ceased at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918. November 11, 1919 marked the first observance of what has become an international day of remembrance. November 11, 1982 will mark the 63rd year that Canadians have remembered and mourned those who died and those who served in the Arm- ed Forces. Our annual Poppy Cam- paign (the only national ap- peal by our organization to the general public for funds) held on the Saturday preceding November 11 is the opportunity for every Canadian to show that they care and remember by wearing a "poppy", Per- sonally, I think it is very tragic that over the past few years this day of remem- brance has become less and less meaningful to the public. All proceeds from the Pop- py Campaign are placed in trust accounts and after the. expenses of the poppies, wreaths, etc., the funds are used to assist Canadian ex - service personnel and their dependants. Some of the funds may be used for com- munity medical appliances and medical research, stu- dent bursaries, emergency aid to veterans, Day Care Centres, transportation and related services for veterans, their dependants and the aged as well as dona- tions for relief of disasters declared by the federal and provincial governments. To Legion members, the objectives of Remembrance Day are: to recognize the sacrifice made by thousands of Canadians in the First and Second World Wars and the W Korean conflict; to develop an awareness of the ceremonies and rites of the past as they are reflected'in the present; to appreciate the qualities of endurance and courage and of devotion to the principles of freedom within our multi -cultural comm nity; and to celebrate peace. In her outgoing speech in 1980, Mary Desjardins, Past, President of the Ladies' Aux- iliary Ontario Provincial Command said, "It takes many good deeds to be recognized but only one bad deed to have it taken away." During Legion Week in 1982 - it is the hope of your local Branch 109 that we can make all the community more aware of our many many good- deeds. We sincerely hope that many citizens of the Town of Goderich will participate in our Decora- tion Day Service and attend the Open House to be held this coming week. (flflflDIRfl TIRE Daoust signs Gretzky, you get a great deal Boy's 1-5 pair Regular $54.99. Pro -quality Wayne Gretzky M.V.P. skates. Snug -fit heel and long arch -supporting counter to assure good control. Cut -resistant nylon mesh covers felt -backed tongue, molded Cycolac toe and lined. nylon 'boot Carbon steel blade with lightweight white Tuuk support. 83-3121X Men's 6-12 (as above). 83.3126X Reg $59.99.... 49.99 pair Save apeo .. Titan Junior stick 99 Reg $10.99 °White 15 -ply laminated 50" shaft with curved -ABS reinforced blade, R or LH. Wayne Gretzky-approved. 83-4031x Reg $13.99 2E White laminated birch 55" shaft, curved ABS reinforced blade, R or LH. 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