Bonnyville's Legion is busy preparing for its duties on Remembrance Day, as it looks to accomplish an important milestone in the Legion's history.
The Legion will be turning 70 next year and plans to mark the anniversary will begin after Remembrance Day, most likely in December.
“It's an important milestone and it's really tough these days for Legions to survive but we have a core of people that has allowed it to survive through their hard work,” said Dan Gates, president of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 183.
The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 183 acquired its charter in 1946. Until moving into their own hall, meetings were held in numerous locations: upstairs at the egg grading station, The Sample House which was located next to the Central Hotel, and at the old Bonnyville Town Hall.
Although Legions were set up nationally in 1926 with the return of First World War veterans, Bonnyville got its own Legion after a number of soldiers came home from World War II.
“They started it and it was a way to continue comradeship that they had in the military and to remember those that were lost,” said Gates.
The Branch moved into their new hall in 1949, where Jenny's Diner and Bakery sits today.
Being the first service club in town, the hall was a centre of community activities. For many years, the Branch sponsored Canada Day festivities, which included water skiing, water polo with boats, boat racing and baseball. At one point there were even airplane rides. It also sponsored a baseball team in 1953 and a local rodeo.
Unfortunately none of the members that oversaw the implementation of the charter are alive today, but World War II veterans Bill McGregor, George Lacquemont and Roger Gamache are still very much a part of the Legion today.
“Our biggest thing is to ensure that the sacrifice of those who died in our wars is never forgotten,” Gates said. “The accomplishments of our veterans should never be forgotten.”
With the new millennium, the Legion Hall was starting to show it's age. It was determined that the building could not be economically repaired so the branch settled on purchasing the St. James Anglican Church in 2012 and renovated the building.
“Although it was sad to leave the old hall, the old church rapidly became like home to the branch,” Gates explained.
There are about 100 Legion members today. Gates said those numbers have stayed consistent for the last several years, adding that the Legion will have to add modern veterans in order to survive.
“A lot of our veterans that we have now are older,” he said. “It's important that we have newer veterans”
As for Remembrance Day, Gates said that there are a lot of misconceptions about where money from the poppy funds go.
“The money from the poppy campaign goes to help veterans.”
Money from donations, Gates noted, has gone strictly to helping veterans. For example, donations have been used in the past to help veterans with mobility issues make their houses accessible.
For its 60th birthday, the Legion held a mess dinner and an open house. Gates said the Legion is not looking to deviate much in terms of planning for its 70th.
“We'll probably be looking at something like that.”
