On Saturday, Sept. 24, members and supporters of the Stettler Legion gathered at its hall on 51 Street to enjoy a dinner of corn on the cob and hot dogs, marking the final day of this year’s Legion Week.
While the dinner was quite simple compared to the high quality steak dinner offered the night before, according to President Sue Mitchell, it was a throwback to the first Legion Week celebration, and the opening of the new Legion Hall, in 1974.
“The first time Legion Week happened in this building, the dogs were cooked by our veterans while the ladies made the corn,” Sherry Morrison, a long-time member, recalled. “Stettler had so many vets and former prisoners of war, the Legion used to be the place they could go (for support).”
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Canadian Legion, with the Stettler branch only slightly more than a year behind it in age. While the Legion did bring out a special Canadian Legion cake to share with guests and members, next year the local branch intends to truly celebrate its 90th anniversary, according to Chris Shewchuk, another member.
The events at the Stettler Legion over the past week included its normal meat draws and a steak dinner, but also featured activities on each of the days. From darts to cards, the Legion was never quiet during the week, Shewchuk noted. Attendance also exceeded expectations in several cases.
“We planned on 50 steaks (for steak night),” Shewchuk explained. “We had to get another 10.” For those who didn’t like steak, there were hamburgers, and the Legion flipped quite a few onto buns and their guests’ plates before the night was done.
The final day of the event also had a special guest in the form of Fred Fox, the brother of Terry Fox. Fox was in town to speak on Monday with the students of Stettler Elementary School and grades 7-9 of Wm. E. Hay. A member of the Legion himself, he often drops in on Legions as he travels the country for a meal, and unintentionally stumbled onto the celebrations on Saturday.
For the membership, Legion Week serves multiple purposes, the least of which is celebrating the past – though that is indeed an important part of the week.
“A lot of people know us only for Remembrance Day,” Shewchuk said. “But, we do so much more than that.”
Through fundraisers, the Legion was able to send $25,000 to help the Fort McMurray evacuees, who fled an intense fire earlier this year. All money from the poppy sales goes specifically to veterans.
Most importantly, though, the Legion wants to see people come in through its doors and enjoy what it has to offer.
“We really want to encourage folk to come out,” Shewchuk said. “I don’t think a lot of people know that they can just come in here. You don’t need to be a member to come have dinner with us, or play darts. I’m one of the younger members, and I’m in my 50s.”
She however had a piece of advice for anyone coming into the Legion: take off your hat.
“It’s a respect thing,” Shewchuk explained. “We had some young guys come in the other day and they thought they were being chased out. They weren’t; we just wanted them to remove their hats.”
The Legion will host it’s annual general meeting on Thursday, Oct. 6 in its local facility, where a new executive will be chosen. Everyone is invited, though only Legion members in good standing can vote.