The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 89 In 1919, the returned Veterans of the Great War organized a Branch of the Great War Veterans Association in Estevan. The first President was Lt. Col. Sam Dryden. In 1926, a unity conference was held in Winnipeg and the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League was formed. The Estevan Branch became Branch # 60 Saskatchewan Command Canadian Legion. There were 35 charter members of the Branch on October 12, 1926. On November 1, 1926, a cenotaph was unveiled as a memorial to the seventy-three World War I men from the district who laid down their lives. The names of the forty-two men who died in World War II were added later. The Ladies’Auxiliary was chartered on April 23, 1944. Fifteen members signed the charter. There were thirty-six members present for the charter meeting. As they required fifteen names to sign the charter, they were picked out of a hat. The Branch gave the ladies $10.00 to acquire the necessary materials to begin their endeavor. It proved to be the best investment the Branch ever made, as over the years, the ladies have contributed over $200,000 to the Branch. In 1949, the President of the Ladies’ Auxiliary proposed the idea of a ‘poppy tea.’ The pouring of the tea and waiting on tables was taken over by the men of the Branch. With the help of the Ladies’ Auxiliary, the Branch has donated large sums of money over the years to the local hospital and the hospitals of Regina for construction and medical equipment. We also sponsor Air and Army Cadets, minor ball and hockey, as well as scholarships and bursaries. The first permanent building was purchased in 1940. This is now known as ‘the small legion hall.’ In 1949, the present Memorial Hall was built and attached to the small Legion hall. When completed, it was dedicated to the memory of those who died in both World Wars and Korea. This now provided space for large functions, a kitchen to serve both halls, and large washrooms. In 1950, members built the Jubilee Room, which is attached to the west side of the small hall. This is the home of the Ladies’ Auxiliary. In 1965, the Branch bought the property adjacent to the Jubilee Room. This property was remodeled to become the clubroom for the Branch. Both the men's Branch and the Ladies’Auxiliary have catered to banquets, weddings, etc. Annual events of the Branch include the Vimy banquet, Decoration Day, the Past Presidents’ banquet, and the Remembrance Day service. Also, the halls are donated each fall for the United Way 36-hour Telethon, which has been the first to reach its goal in 28 out of 29 years. The present membership of the Branch is 269 Legion members and 58 members of the Ladies’ Auxiliary. The Estevan Branch is proud to list the following among its past members: William Gough D.C.M., J.E. McCormack D.F.C A.F.C., Edward Knight D.C.M., and William J. Knight M.LD. Bob Kohaly has served as Branch President, Provincial President and President of Dominion Command. Frank Mather also served as Branch and Provincial President. ESTEVAN BRANCH 60 Left to Right: Clubroom, Jubilee Room, Legion Hall, Memorial Hall all renovations came from various projects, and local firms supplied services and goods. Over its 80 years the Branch has been supervised under the direction of an elected executive, by 22 different business administrators and today has a staff of one full-time and 11 part-time employees, and since receiving its charter in 1926, has had the office of Branch President served by 41 different members. The success and endurance of the Moose Jaw Branch has been greatly enhanced by the assistance of the Ladies’ Auxiliary - an 80-year companion, having received its charter on November 2, 1926. Over the years, good and bad, the support from the ladies has been exemplary by both deed and action and the men's Branch is honoured that the members of the Auxiliary have played such an integral part in the viability of the Branch. During its eight decades of operation, the Auxiliary has been headed by 33 different members in the position of President. The Branch has a brilliant record of achievement, which will be upheld in future years. It has and always will be PRESERVING THE PAST - PROTECTING THE FUTURE! MOOSE JAW BRANCH 59 (...Cont’d)
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