After nearly four decades of service with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #73, one member recently received a lifetime membership honour.
Lois (Bunny) Burke received the honour after 37 years with the Legion. It was presented during a regular meeting held June 29.
“It’s quite an honour,” said Burke. “I didn’t think I deserved that.”
Humble though she may be, Burke’s volunteer work and dedication over the years clearly filled the requirements for nomination.
Members must be nominated to receive lifetime membership. Once nominated, Burke said a review is held that takes into consideration the nominee’s involvement both in the community and with the Legion.
“When they nominated me, [they] asked for what I was involved with in the community,” said Burke.
She wrote a list of the committees and organizations she has participated in over the years.
“It was two-and-a-half pages long,” Burke said.
In her nearly 40 years with the Legion, Burke has held various positions on the executive, has been Poppy chairwoman and has led the Remembrance Day committee.
Burke has strong ties to the military community in Flin Flon. She was a member of the Royal Canadian Navy reserves for many years, and an officer with the Navy League 81 Sea Cadets in Flin Flon.
Six of Burke’s uncles saw action during World War II, and her two brothers both had military careers.
Burke’s father-in-law was also a Legion member, and received a great deal of help from the Legion during an illness in the 1970s.
“I liked what they did, and do, and what they stand for,” said Burke. “I thought, I can pay a membership fee every year. I just thought it was a good thing and wanted to get involved.”
Burke joined the Legion, but was unable to attend committee meetings for a number of years. At the time she was also an officer for the Navy League 81 Sea Cadets in Flin Flon, and the Legion meeting times conflicted with the cadet parades.
Burke spent 35 years with the Royal Canadian Navy reserves, based out of Flin Flon, and became a member of the sea cadets corps in a rather roundabout way.
“I always admired the sea cadets, but I could never join because I was female,” said Burke. “But they asked if I was interested in chaperoning, and the next thing I know I was in a uniform, three weeks later.”
Burke remained a member of the local sea cadet branch until the group disbanded in 2008.
Following her retirement from the military in 2008, Burke was able to focus on volunteer work with the Legion.
“For the first number of years I couldn’t even attend meetings…but when I retired, or aged out of the military, now I could go and get involved with the Legion,” said Burke.
Less than one year into her retirement, Burke took a position on the executive with the Poppy committee, as well as the Remembrance Day committee – which she still sits on today.
The Legion has provided a sense of family, friendship and community for Burke, and she hopes to see it to continue.
“I encourage other people to consider joining,” she said, adding that members do not have to have a military background.
Burke’s son and grandson have joined the Legion.
“I just really think it’s a great organization, and if you’re able to get involved, why not?”
she said.
Legion members are encouraged to volunteer a minimum of 30 hours a year, which to Burke is “not a big deal.”
On Remembrance Day celebrations alone, Burke estimates six weeks straight of her volunteer hours are required.
But, to Burke, it’s all worth it.
“You get to meet new friends,” she said. “There is so much history in those people who are there, that’s what I love about it.”
