The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 232 has been an integral part of the Huntsville community for decades. The past challenging year was no exception as it continued its outreach to veterans and the community at large.
The very popular, volunteer-prepared fish and chips and roast beef dinners help to raise funds for the Legion and serve the community by offering a reasonably priced meal, which in turn allows the Legion to fund monthly veteran luncheons.
Zone commander, past president and current Branch 232 secretary/treasurer Betty Smith explains, “The monthly lunches have been a continuing event for the past six years. It will move back indoors as soon as regulations allow.”
“We reached out to the veterans this year as we know they need our assistance. We did not want to lose contact during the pandemic and we wanted to be here to assist in any way we can,” she adds. “While the veterans prefer the comradeship of being in the building for their lunch, they still appreciate the new way of doing things as well.”
As with most good deeds, it takes a village to ensure that no Legion member is forgotten. Legion members, ladies auxiliary, and Friends of the Legion help with the luncheon preparation, the clean-up and, when necessary, the delivery. “We are always looking for volunteers,” says Smith.
Appreciative Legion member and veteran Lawrence Main emailed Huntsville Doppler to say, “We should thank the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 232 for the monthly free lunches for veterans during the time of isolation.” He added his thanks to all of the volunteers who work so hard to make it happen. “It shows how valuable a Legion branch is to our community.”
After 21 years in the Canadian armed forces, Nancy Osborne retired as a major; she and her husband Jay now call Huntsville home. She always shares posts about the dinners and lunches the Legion serves “because I think it is a good meal at a good price and supports our local Legion in its efforts to support veterans.”
She shares, “I recently found myself submitting a disability claim through Veterans Affairs and the regional Legion service officer was instrumental in facilitating my forms and helping me to cut through some of the red tape. I am only beginning to see just how much the Legion does for it’s veteran members and their families. On a more local level I receive a COVID ‘check-in’ call from a volunteer at our branch every month just to see how I am coping and to be sure I know about the upcoming Legion lunch. I am doing fine but still enjoy the calls and I can only imagine how much they are appreciated by some of our members who are on their own and struggling through these challenging times.”
Smith says, “In times of local or regional crisis, Legion branches and Legionnaires are there to support those who have been adversely affected by an emergency.” She cites the Empire Hotel fire as an example. “…we opened the doors of Branch 232 to the residents who had no place to go until they found housing that evening, and meals were provided for the next few days until everyone was looked after. The Legion made sure that they had a place to go where they felt safe and reassured.”
It may not be widely known but anyone can join the Legion. There are three classes of membership: those members who are veterans both new and old who have served or are serving; associate members who have an affiliation to a veteran; and affiliate members who have no relationship to a veteran but wish to support the Legion and all that it represents.
As Osborne says, “Whether people participate in functions or events doesn’t matter, joining the Legion keeps funds and membership up and the Legion viable.”
Smith, Osborne, and Main all encourage Huntsville residents to support the Legion dinners and they encourage veterans to avail themselves of the lunches. A strong and vital Legion is a tremendous asset to all residents of the community and participating in its programs is a way to both ensure its continuation and honour those who have served their country.
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