The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The following is the full speech delivered by long-time member Evelyn Meyer at the 80th anniversary banquet of the Flin Flon Legion Ladies Auxiliary, held Oct. 19: Good evening everybody and welcome to our 80th celebration. 80 years. Wow! Our auxiliary was formed in February 1933. Our first president was (Catherine) Warren. At one time we had 233 regular members and seven life members. Who are we? And what is our purpose? We are an auxiliary to Legion Branch No. 73. Our purpose is to assist the branch in all of their endeavours in caring for the veterans and their dependents. We cooperate, work and support our branch. We also help out our community. We are governed by a book of bylaws. We are a non-profit organization, which means we work and raise a lot of money, but give it back in donations. In recent years, we have spent quite a few thousands of dollars on equipment for our local hospital. Each year we give out bursaries to three separate students to help further their education. For quite a few years we sponsored the Girl Guides. We donate to the schools to help provide snacks, help with yearbooks and for safe grad. We sponsor students to the athletic camp to participate in sports and music. We donate to minor hockey. One year we sponsored a minor hockey team to fly to Sweden to play in a tournament. We donate to the Salvation Army to help them with their Christmas hampers. We buy flowers for the Jubilee residents to plant each year. We give to the Pregnancy Care Centre, the food bank, the provincial scholarship, Deer Lodge hospital, and the Peace Gardens. These are only a few, the list goes on and on. In the past our biggest fundraising was catering. We held banquets in our hall and in the community hall. We put on two teas a year. We have a raffle twice a year, we run the bingo concession, we have a St. Patrick's Day stew, a Christmas shopper's lunch and 50/50 twice a week. At one time we had a Mother's Day tag day. This was a yearly event; come rain or shine, we were out on the street. Every mother received an artificial flower, and the proceeds of the tag day were given to the Vocational Training Centre for those with special needs. Another fundraiser was July 1 Canada Day. Together with the branch, we would set up booths at Phantom Lake. We sold hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon, ice cream and other goodies. We had the Canada Day ceremonies with the branch and auxiliary Colour Party and the Legion Pipe Band. The raising of the flag was very special. It was a very proud day, and I for one was very proud to belong to such a great organization. One year there was a Folklorama held in the hockey arena. This is a multicultural event, and each nationality had a booth and would be selling their main food dishes. The branch had a booth and asked the auxiliary if they would run it. It was the Canadian booth, and our main dish was apple pie. We also sold other baking, coffee, hamburgers, and dozens of candied apples. This event went on for three days, we were there from nine in the morning to nine at night. We raised a good bit of money, which was turned over to the branch. We also hold a meat draw every Friday, and many times the proceeds have been donated to someone who has fallen on hard times due to sickness or other misfortune. See 'Visiting' on pg. Continued from pg. These are just a few of the events we have done to raise money. If I was to tell you them all, I would be here all night. For many years, once a week we would visit every patient in the hospital and leave them a treat, regardless if they were a member or not. This was discontinued due to hospital regulations. Today we only visit or send flowers to one of our own members. We do funeral lunches for branch and auxiliary members. We send flowers to bereaved auxiliary members and families. We visit the shut-ins at Christmas and take them goodies. We help the branch deliver treats to the (Northern Lights) Manor and Personal Care Home. We cater to the branch monthly dinner meetings. They cook our Christmas supper and June meeting supper. Now this seems like a lot of work, but we have had our fun events, too. At one time we had a yearly picnic. There would be races and games for the kids, hot dogs and ice cream. It was a great get-together with the branch. We also held a family bonspiel every year. Two adults and two kids to every rink. This was a fun time. Sometimes some of the kids had to push their rocks all the way to the other end because they weren't big enough to throw them. We also held an adult bonspiel, which is still held today. These events were always followed by a delicious meal and a social. For many years we had a Legion bowling league. We held an auxiliary fun day. We played games, drank, ate, drank and were merry. This was great for bonding with one another. We have a Christmas party every year, exchange gifts, and enjoy a delicious supper cooked and served by the branch. At this time, we present the branch with a generous donation. In the past, after we had a visit from Santa Claus, the men would join us and we would dance the night away. We send members to the district meetings, conventions, and sports weekends. We also host the district meeting and sports weekend when it is our turn. Now there have been many changes over the years. We have very few veterans left. Many of our members have passed on. Like many organizations, we are struggling to keep going. This year it has been difficult to fill the positions of the executive. It's also hard to get enough members to come out and work and take charge. Us older ones just can't cut it anymore. I commend those that have stepped forward and are trying. I know it's not easy. The majority of you weren't even born when the war was over. Therefore, you didn't have husbands, sweethearts, brothers or fathers returning, or not returning home. It is very understandable that you don't have the same motivations. But think of the many brave Canadians who went to war and fought to make our country a good place to live. So in their memory, let us do our part to help make our community a good place to live. Helping out when there is a need can be very rewarding. Work together, be tolerant of one another, and pull together for the good of our auxiliary, and let us all remember that a kind word and a little bit of praise goes a long way. Thank you.
