The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 51 were held in the President’s or Secretary’s home or downtown at someone’s business office. The “new” Legion (ref. Kamsack Ladies’ Auxiliary) was used for general meetings and socials but was too small for bigger events like November 11th. When a larger hall was needed, the Legion used other halls, such as the RC Church basement. The president in 1946 was A.J. McCracken and the Secretary/Treasurer was Stan Tysowski. Fundraising in the early years consisted of Tag Days, Carnivals, socials, such as Vimy Dances and raffles, etc. In 1965, the Branch started bingos as a fundraiser. This became very popular and became their main fund raiser as it remains to this day. In the mid1980’s, Nevada Break Opens were started, bringing in only about 10% of Legion income. Before World War II, Decoration Day services would be held at any time. In 1934 they were held on Sept. 2nd, with members from Togo, Pelly, Canora and Yorkton Branches attending. As the bingo crowds grew, a larger space was needed to play. The main floor was expanded with a 40 x 38-foot addition in 1973. In 1981, a two-story addition was added with storage and bathrooms on the main floor, a games room, and new Secretary’s office on the second floor. Remembrance Day and Decoration Day are the most important days of the year. Kamsack Branch 24 is a very active Branch, with approximately 175 members. They meet on the first and third Tuesday of every month, except July and August. There are three WWII Veterans on the Executive. The President this year is MaryJane Tysowski,, and the Secretary/Treasurer is Dianne Smutt. They are just two of seven Associate members on the Executive. The future does look very good for Kamsack Branch 24. LADIES’ AUXILIARY TO KAMSACK BRANCH 24 Though wives of WWI Veterans often assisted the Legion, it was not until a meeting on May 21, 1929 that this Auxiliary was formed. There were fifteen charter members and they chose Ethel Carss as their first President. Meetings were held in members’ homes until the late 1930’s, when the Legion bought an old school cottage. The ladies immediately set to work to make it more comfortable. The minutes of a Ladies’Auxiliary meeting were found in one of the men’s early minute books. These minutes were dated March 24, 1921. They were planning for a Tag Day to be held on April 9th. Some plans of the “Tea Committee” were also found with these minutes. Then, WWII broke out, and the members found themselves busier than ever supporting the war effort and raising money for the parcels that were sent to all enlisted personnel from Kamsack. Parcels included cigarettes, chocolate bars, candies, tea, coffee, tinned goods, playing cards, hand knit socks, scarves and any other comforts they could think of. The necessary funds were raised by raffles, teas, bingos, rummage and homemade food sales. A ton of coal was once raffled. When peace came, they worked with the Legion Branch to plan VE Day celebrations, welcomed home the returning forces, and did their best to make war brides feel welcome, too. When the Harvey House became the new Legion Hall in 1946, the Ladies’ Auxiliary members dug in again. They catered to everything, from 30-member anniversaries, to weekly Kiwanis meetings, to Kamsack men’s bonspiel banquets for over 250 persons. They ran food concessions at the Legion carnivals and sports days, supplied food for the 2-day Legion bonspiel – any event where money could be raised to assist in their objective – to completely cover the cost of setting up the kitchen – gas stove, dishes and all. The building was a three-story, all-wood home with over 4,300 square feet of floor space. The second floor and third floors were renovated and made into suites. Veterans with their families occupied these suites for a number of years after the war. Over and above these money-raising activities, they helped with community canvasses (Salvation Army, Mental Health), set up blood donor clinics for the Red Cross and a TB Clinic, supported Legion programs (Scholarship fund, track and field, Veterans Comfort Fund) and donated time and money to other worthy causes, such as assisting with Special Olympics, donating to the Christmas Cheer Fund, UN Children’s Appeal and the Paraplegic Association, etc. The members were always represented at Zone, District and Provincial meetings and Ethel Carss served as Provincial President of the Ladies’ Auxiliary in 1965-66. They adopted a family in Britain and sent parcels alternating between money and clothing. For several years, they made sprays and wreaths for Decoration Day. They continued to handle the Poppy Campaign covering Main Street, a door-to-door canvass, and sending boxes of poppies to rural schools. Over $200.00 was usually raised. Although the loss of the Provincial Command Ladies’Auxiliary has hit Kamsack Branch 24 Ladies’ Auxiliary hard, and they have lost members to the Legion, they continue to enjoy their monthly meetings, visit sick and shut-in members, and assist the Legion when they can. KAMSACK BRANCH 24 (...Cont’d)
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