Do you want to keep your legion? A letter to Castlegar-Robson area residents.

This question has to be placed before every member of the public, both in Castlegar and Robson and the areas surrounding these communities.

Our Legion is a vibrant and wonderful place to meet with friends. We host the Christmas Hamper Campaign, the Poppy Campaign to benefit our Veterans, (we) march on Remembrance Day every year and open the doors to adults and children for a warm drink and something to eat.

On Poppy Distribution days, our Veterans stand in the cold to give poppies away so we will never forget the sacrifice they made. The Ladies Auxiliary also supplies hot soup and warm bread and dessert for anyone wishing to help with the Poppy Campaign. The Legion holds contests locally and across Canada for school children to enter drawings and essays with a November 11th theme which are judged locally and throughout Canada.

The Legion Foundation provides Spinoza Bears (average cost of $300) to children who have been traumatized by fire, sickness, disability or loss of a close family member.

The Legion Foundation also accepts charitable donations and issues receipts to aid in medical research and equipment, to help our soldiers overseas, our seniors at home, and our youth — especially with track suits and other equipment.

We have donated untold funds for organizations such as the Cadets, Scouts, Guides, Rainbow Girls, our hospital, hospice, any number of sports uniforms, equipment etc., to the firefighters for Jaws of Life, Castlegar Queen candidates each year, Cops for Kids, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, The Cancer Society, the Red Cross, the George Derby Centre, the Branch Fahrnie Centre, Shriner’s Cancer Cars, the Duke of Edinburgh Award and numerous other groups that request funding.

The Ladies Auxiliary have been catering to prominent organizations such as the Library, the Hospital Auxiliary, the Garden Club, the Lion’s Club, Cadet Leaders of Nelson, Trail and Castlegar, the Square Dancers, Bowlers, Order of the Eastern Star and Masons, the retired federal workers, a veterans dinner, and weddings and funeral memorials for all members of our great community.

At one time, there was a limited number of people to join the Legion, but with attrition that has been changed drastically to include almost all and any members of the community. If you are or have honorably serviced as a member of the Armed Forces of Canada, the Commonwealth or its wartime allies; or served in the Merchant Navy or Ferry Command; or would just like to join the branch in Castlegar, please let us know.

We would be more than happy to have more members, as our mission is to help the Legion Branch in as many areas as we are requested to. So everyone, come and join us.

A special note to anyone in Castlegar, Robson, and the surrounding areas. You will discover an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for others. You will become part of an organization serving for the greater good of the community. You will share in the pride of being Canadian, in an organization committed to the Remembrance of those who have so much for the freedom and prosperity enjoyed by all. (Membership - BC/Yukon Website).

At present, we have over 300 members in the branch and the Ladies Auxiliary, but minimal support for programs and less support and interest in executive positions which must be filled at elections, to be held in November and December. If the Legion is to survive, we must increase our membership. Only a small portion of the membership fee stays at your Branch. We, as a branch need members with a positive attitude, new ideas and members who are interested in getting involved in projects and most of all, involvement in the Executive of the Branch and the running of the Ladies Auxiliary and all that it involves.