The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 201 ing tables and a lovely set of dishes. In 1953, Ora Britton and Mrs. Gill were commissioned to purchase hardwood flooring from the mill in Bonnyville. It was installed over the cement floor and from then on, dancing was much easier. Weekly dances, raffles, catering, carnivals, turkey shoots, and rental from social functions funded the hall. They raffled an English model car that was won by Verna Gelowitz. Over the years, the hall served as a classroom, and as a temporary post office. Many wedding dances, funerals, meetings and other community events took place within the welcoming walls of the Legion HalL. The Hall was condemned in 1974 and Norman Britton oversaw its dismantlement. The lumber was parceled out and sold, the funds from the sale of the lumber still supports the Branch today. The dishes and kitchen supplies were donated to the Community Hall. The Ladies Auxiliary was formed on April 22, 1954, and was disbanded in January 2000. The women had worked hard over the years and the men agreed that as they had raised most of the necessary funds and had to attend meetings as non-voting members, they should form their own association. For years, they met on the same evening, the men in the living room and the women in the kitchen. Following, is a partial list of the Ladies’ Auxiliary members: Ora Britton, Anne Britton, Mrs. Nixon, Mrs. Gill, Sadie Buchan, Gladys Erickson, Jesse Barrowman, Marjorie Gelowitz, Irene Erickson, Edythe Barton, Opal Forsyth, Dorothy Dahlseide, Lena Wild, Ann Zieglgansberger, Verna Gelowitz, Elsie Dahlseide, Gladys Sharp. Presently, the Branch boasts 31 members, has a very limited executive, and survives on money from the sale of the lumber from 1974. They are supported by the community and are grateful to the school, which has hosted a wonderful Remembrance Day Ceremony since 1957. Several Legion members recal1cd this incident. Ma Hassler hosted one of the early meetings and provided food and refreshments. Her home was near Lee Kong's Cafe. She had prepared turkey and all the trimmings and kept them in a galvanized tub to serve after the meeting. Since this was in the 1930s and there was no refrigeration, nearly all the members were violently ill the next day. Soldiers from the area who were killed in action during WWII are as follows: Edgar Finn, George Kuchryn, Clarence Meeker, and Steve Torna. On July 2, 1995, fifty years after WWII and the 90th Anniversary of Saskatchewan, a Cenotaph was dedicated to the War Veterans. This event was made possible through the combined efforts of the Pierceland Legion, the Pierceland & District Chamber of Commerce, the Pierceland Tourism Committee, the Village of Piercdand, and through many donations from other organizations and private individuals. PIERCELAND BRANCH 178 (...Cont’d) According to correspondence dating from early 1926 through 1929, there must have been a Legion Branch formed in the Amulet district. This Branch found it difficult to keep interest and membership in the late 1920s. They carried on as best they could but it was impossible to undertake any real projects. Consequently, following WWII, with an influx of new Veterans, mainly from the Pangman/Khedive area, they felt it would be advantageous to transfer their location to Pangman. In the 1950s, the Legion membership at Pangman was quite active and each November 11th they sponsored a well attended morning "Service of Remembrance" followed by an evening banquet for the Veterans and their wives with music and a special speaker. As the years passed, membership dwindled and the evening function was discontinued but the Remembrance Service is continued each year. A community potluck dinner now follows the service. In 1961, Pangman Branch bought a small building and moved it to Pangman to use as a clubroom. They donated its use to the South East District Regional Library and it was used in that capacity for over twenty-five years. As Pangman area Veterans have passed away, one by one, the Branch has taken advantage of the "Associate Membership" program in order to keep functioning. Over the years, Pangman Branch has donated to the Poppy Fund, Veterans’ Hospitals, Muscular Dystrophy, C.N.I.B., the TB Veterans program, Paraplegic Program, as well as community endeavors. Records show that the Legion was instrumental in raising funds to build Pangman' s first curling rink. At the present time, the Branch sponsors the annual poster and poetry competition at the school, with Branch members conducting a Service of Remembrance for students, teachers and parents. PANGMAN BRANCH 180
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