The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 245 The organizational meeting of Avonlea Branch #236 of the Royal Canadian Legion was held February 11, 1945 in Armstrong's Drugstore. There were fourteen charter members. The first officers were W.J. Armstrong- President, T.E. Miller -1st Vice-President, R.J. Hubbard - 2nd Vice-President and W.C. Arthur - Secretary/Treasurer. Some of the early activities of the Branch were to join in the formation of a welcome home committee for retired service personnel, to assist the community in the erection of the Cenotaph of fieldstone together with the bronze plaque commemorating the names of deceased comrades of the First and Second World Wars. Avonlea Branch provided trees and shrubs to complete the landscaping and perpetual care. During the years 1945-49, meetings were held in the Masonic Hall. In 1949, the Branch purchased what had been the Flanders home. It was renovated and served as the Legion Hall until 1997 when maintenance costs forced the Branch to demolish the building. Since then, meetings have been held at the town/RM office or the Museum. In 2004-05, under the direction of Comrade G.P. Hubbard, a "Legion Room" was created as a display in the Avonlea and District Museum. This room contains many artifacts from the Legion Hall and local Veterans. The original members and other returned Veterans joined in and paraded to the community Hall for a V.E. Day service on May 8, 1945. They also worshipped as a body in the United Church on November 11, 1945. The Branch also initiated, with the cooperation of the local clergy, an annual non-denominational Remembrance Day service in the community hall. In 1945, the membership joined in the support of disabled Veterans through participation in the national wreath and poppy campaign, which continues to this day. Funding has been given to support local youth hockey teams, as well as sending a number of local youth to the Provincial Track and Field camp. The Branch has also provided a $100.00 bursary annually to many local students. For many years, the Remembrance Day Cabaret helped to raise money for operations, as well as providing the community with a social event. The Branch has always been an active supporter of Veterans and other welfare agencies, such as the Weyburn Hospital Veterans' Appeal, the T.E. Veterans Fund, and the C.N.I.B. Decreasing membership is a serious challenge. Avonlea Branch continues to provide the Poster, Poem and Essay competition to Avonlea and Briercrest schools. We provide an honor guard for school Remembrance Day services and the community service. We continue to make improvements to the 'Legion Room.’ Avonlea Branch continues to carry out the theme: "their sacrifice will ever inspire us to labour on to the end that those who survive and need our aid may be assured of assistance and that the country in which we live and for which they died may ever be worthy of the sacrifice they made." Taken from “ARROWHEADS TO WHEATFIELDS” by Com. Reginald D. Watson, 1983, updated to 2006. LADIES’ AUXILIARY TO AVONLEA BRANCH 236 The Ladies’ Auxiliary to the Royal Canadian Legion was formed in 1945 as the men and women of the Canadian Forces were returning home from World War II. There were eighteen charter members. The executive consisted of: President, Margaret Ridgway; 1st Vice President, Jeanetta Miller; 2nd Vice President, Margaret Sinclair; Secretary-Treasurer, Isabel Armstrong; Standard Bearer, June Taylor; Press Rep. Melve Aikens. In order to be a member, women had to have close family relationship to a Veteran. The official dress of the Auxiliary is a navy blazer, beret, gray skirt, black shoes and white gloves. The emblem is inscribed "Memoriam Eorum Retinebimus" meaning "We will remember them." The auxiliary work was to complement that of the Legion and to bring comfort to all Veterans. The Auxiliary always had a March of Dimes Tea, as well as a Poppy Tea. For Veterans, the Auxiliary served with the "Hand of Friendship," remembering birthdays and Christmas with small gifts. The Auxiliary has had fun times: local cabarets, Christmas parties and curling teams. One year, the women's team beat the team from Moose Jaw, one frosty morning they traveled to Gull Lake for the District playdowns. For fifty-two years, until 1997, the Ladies’ Auxiliary provided services to the Avonlea community, from cleaning the Legion Hall, serving lunches on Remembrance Day and after meetings. After surrendering their charter, some of the women joined the Legion Branch as Associate members. The reward of being in the Legion Auxiliary was the unbreakable friendships formed over the years. The most meaningful moments are the two minutes of silence at each monthly meeting. "Lest we Forget." Taken from "ARROWHEADS TO WHEAT FIELDS” by Comrade Dorothy Daniel, 1984, updated to 1997. AVONLEA BRANCH 236
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