Legion takes pride in service

Community involvement, social aspect part of the Legion experience

Local residents interested in getting involved in their community, honouring and helping Canada’s veterans, and having a place to go to be around friends in a social atmosphere are welcome to join the Royal Canadian Legion.

On Saturday, the General Stewart Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion in Lethbridge was the site of an open house designed to provide an opportunity to answer questions any member of the public might have about the organization, and to provide information on joining the organization for anyone so inclined.

Michael Cormican, vice-president of membership for the Lethbridge branch of the Legion, said some of the first questions people ask when they sign on to the Legion include finding out what it is they can do as a member, or how they can get involved in activities.

“It’s a matter of outlining the many programs we have to see what area they might like,” he said.

For those who have been putting off signing on with the Legion due to a worry they won’t have enough time to fulfil requirements, Cormican said they should not be worried, as the Legion is willing to work with members to help them get the most out of their membership.

Legion branches work to be as vibrant as possible. Some of the goals the organization works toward include a focus on helping youth, the community at large, sports and socializing.

“We especially support the young people. Scouts, Navy League, Cadets, 4H and schools,” said Cormican.

“Remembrance Day and the poppy campaign are the usual things people are most familiar with. And that is a big part of our program, too.”

“We have some veterans here who are in their 20s and 30s,” he added.

“They have returned from Afghanistan. That can happen these days, too. But many people who are in the Legion were never in the military at all.”

The Legion is a national organization which was founded in 1926 to support veterans and their families.

It was formed by the joining of a number of support organizations involved with helping military members, veterans and their families getting the help they needed. The Legion provides a “home away from home” for returning vets to congregate and meet people with similar shared experiences and to received information and support as they re-integrate themselves into civilian life after returning from military service.

There are 1,500 branches in Canada serving 360,000 members.

And while support for Canadian veterans and the keepers of Canada’s memory when it comes to honouring the dead on Remembrance Day remains their primary goal, the Legion is also a place for the community to come together in fellowship, take part in social events, and make their communities better through service projects.

The Legion hall is also a place for fans of pool, darts, shuffleboard and similar sports.

And previous military service is not a requirement of Legion membership.

Currently, there are between 800 and 1,000 members of the Lethbridge branch of the Legion.

For more information on the Royal Canadian Legion in Lethbridge, call 403-327-6644, or visit legion.ca.