Submitted by Debbie Golden-Thornton, Secretary, Branch 290
As poppies appear on lapels around the community and white crosses decorate our Cenotaph overlooking the harbour, we are reminded that November 11th is the most significant date of the year on our Legion calender. On this day, we take time to reflect on those who served and sacrificed in order to defend our values and freedoms. We also honour those who continue to serve our country today. The Poppy is a symbol of Remembrance, our visual pledge to never forget those Canadians who have fallen in war and military operations. The sale of poppies raises funds to support Veterans and their families in need. We invite everyone to proudly wear a poppy in the days leading up to the 11th.
Our Tobermory Remembrance Day ceremony will begin at 11:00 at the Cenotaph on November 11th. The Ladies’ Auxiliary will be serving a hot lunch at the Legion following the ceremony. All are welcome.
A special thank you to Judy Hurst as she steps down from her role as Public Relations Officer. Judy has done an amazing job writing this article on a regular basis and managing our social media presence and she will be a tough act to follow. Judy and Sean Hurst have both been valued members of Branch 290 and their contribution to our Legion has been much appreciated. Thank you, Judy and Sean!
Bidding has closed for the beautiful wallhangings by artist Monica Pingushat from Arviat, Nunavut. Successful bidders were Davy & Avril Philip, from Scotland, and Jack Salen. Thank you to the donors and to everyone that made a bid. The money raised will go to the building fund.
Each year, the Billy Bishop Museum in Owen Sound pays tribute to area Veterans. On October 27, two Tobermory veterans and brothers, Charles Golden and Thomas Albert (Bert) Golden were honoured. Charlie and Bert enlisted in Wiarton with the 160th Bruce Battalion. Charlie was 23 and Bert was 21 years old. Together they embarked Canada from Halifax aboard the S.S. Metagama in October 1916. Charlie went on to serve with the 2nd Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade in France. Bert served in France with the 2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion. The brothers returned home, but Bert received gunshot wounds at Arras and spent over 1 1/2 years in hospitals in England and Canada.
Charlie & Bert were both active Legion members and Bert Golden donated the land that our Legion now sits on.
As a Legion, we owe a big thank you to Shirley Johnstone, our Veteran Services Officer. Shirley does all the background research on our local Veterans, contacts family members and works closely with the Billy Bishop Museum to make sure that Tobermory veterans are among those honoured. The pictures and histories of previous Veterans that have been honoured are on permanent display at the Legion.
The Ladies’ Auxiliary “Winter Bingo” at the Community Centre will begin on Monday, November 18th @ 1:00. Regular events at the Legion continue as follows: Meatdraw on Saturdays at 4 pm. Euchre on November 22 at 7 pm. Darts on Thursdays at 7:30 pm. You do not need to be a member to participate in these events. Please join us. The Branch is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 3pm.
General meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month with our next General Meeting being held on November 12 @ 7pm. It is very important that as many members as possible turn out to these meetings. If you are not a member, but are interested in becoming one, please contact Membership Chair, Rick Lane, email 05-290@legion.ca or phone 226-668-3156. You can also join the Legion online at www.legion.ca/join-us. If you join online there is no early-bird discount offered. For new memberships and renewals, early-bird discounted dues are $50 until November 30 with dues increasing to $60 until December 31. You can pay by eTransfer at donate@tobermorylegion.org or in person at the Branch. We do have a membership contest going on. The prize is the reimbursement of your membership dues. If you pay your dues in October, you receive 2 entries. If you pay your dues in November, you receive 1 entry.
Our Legion is such an important part of our community, why not consider getting involved?
