Branch President s Message

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3 Hello Comrades: Branch President s Message I have been elected as President of Branch #586 and look forward to working with a new executive and you the members. In the past five years, I have moved up the ranks and served on the executive and various committees. Although I may fall short on legion protocol, I assure you I am looking to bring to you enthusiasm, energy and willingness to try new and novel ways to induce new members and retain existing ones. We are all facing economic and lifestyle changes, but we must still have fun in our existence. I am excited to be involved in both the 50 th anniversary of Branch #586 and the Ladies Auxiliary and look forward to the anniversary events planned for the July 23rd weekend. We welcome the public and all our members to attend. We should be thankful to all the former Presidents, their executives and to all the former Ladies Auxiliary Executives for getting us to where we are today. We have a wonderful facility to be proud of and it should be used to its full extent. I would be remiss, if I did not extend thanks to our outgoing executive, especially President Shirley Millard. She kept us together for two years, through amalgamation with Shallow Lake and other minor adjustments. Let me not forget all the volunteers over the years, who gave their time and efforts to the tasks. I shall be looking for more volunteers, for the future, to carry on with the tradition. If I don t ask you, just volunteer! If I do ask, please give me some legion time and I will be grateful. Hope you enjoy this 50 th Anniversary Publication. Yours in Comradeship, Cecil Groves - President

4 Ladies Auxiliary President s Message Greetings Comrades: I have been re-elected President of the Ladies Auxiliary. This will be at least my tenth year in this office. I have been in the legion for many years and enjoyed the social activities and friendships of the Hepworth branch. Over the years we have served our community through donations to many local and major charitable organizations. We have had a variety of fundraisers, served meals to community organizations, hosted funeral and wedding receptions, held numerous card and sports tournaments and helped support our legion financially. Thank you to all our volunteers and to our executive. I would like to congratulate the previous leaders and executives of Branch 586 and the Ladies Auxiliary, who have left us with a fifty year legacy in Hepworth to be proud of. Please contact us if you wish to become involved in our great organization. Remember, you are no longer required to have a relative who served in the military to join us. Yours in Comradeship, Marie Mole Ladies Auxiliary President

5 MEMBERSHIP The Royal Canadian Legion was formed in 1926 with a membership of 50,000. The Legion s commitment to the Remembrance of those who gave their lives for peace and freedom is as valid today as it was then. Today the Legion is one of the largest community service organizations in Canada with more than 370,000 members and approximately 1,500 branches in Canada, the USA and Europe. As well as service to veterans and the community, the Legion has a strong and continuing commitment in promoting Canada s contribution to world peace, the protection of Canadian sovereignty and the preservation of national unity. The years take their toll on Canada s veteran population and the Legion needs the infusion of new blood in order to maintain the many services provided by The Royal Canadian Legion to communities across Canada. By joining the Royal Canadian Legion you will have the opportunity to make new friends, become involved with your community and to develop and share your leadership skills. You will help to perpetuate the Remembrance of those who gave so much for the freedom and prosperity we enjoy today. You may be eligible for voting membership if you are a Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject and are of federal voting age. WHO CAN JOIN: you may be eligible for ORDINARY membership if you have served or are serving in: The Canadian Forces or Her Majesty s Forces (including regular force or reserve force). ASSOCIATE membership if you are the child, stepchild, adopted child, grandchild, sibling, niece, nephew widow/widower, parent or spouse of someone who is or was eligible for Ordinary membership AFFILIATE membership if you do not qualify for Ordinary or Associate but support the aims and objects of The Royal Canadian Legion you may apply for affiliate voting membership. So drop into a Legion branch and become involved in your community in support of youth, seniors, the disabled and others. The Legion provides bursaries and scholarships to students from secondary school to university level and is the largest single supporter of Scouts and Guides Canada. It is also a major supporter of sea, army and air cadets. Yours in Comradeship, Joyce Wettlaufer Recording Secretary

6 By: Marguerite (Peggy) Sutcliffe Ladies Auxiliary. Legion: Hepworth and Shallow Lake together was Branch No.282 until some members broke away in 1960 and formed their own Branch. Hepworth Branch No.586 came into being in July Comrade Bruce Clifford was the first president and Comrade Gordon Jones the first Secretary. Auxiliary: A new Auxiliary Branch was formed in November With the transfers from what was now Shallow Lake Branch No.282 and some new members there were approx. 30 members. We started our Branch with the help of Comrade Gordon Jones, Comrade M. Sutcliffe and Comrade J. Buckton. Then Comrade Jones turned it all over to Comrade Sutcliffe to organize with the help of our Zone Commander Betty Smith, C4. Zone Commander Betty Smith and Comrade Pegg from Provincial Command initiated all new members then had nominations and installation of officers. This took place in the dining room of the Royal Hotel in Hepworth on November 16,1960. Zone Commander Betty Smith of Tobermory took the December meeting and at the end of that meeting turned the gavel over to me. I took over as President January 1st, 1961 and was in office for 1962/63. We started out with no money and with Flags, Hoisters, gloves etc. to buy we had a lot to figure out as to where we would get all these required items. Southampton Branch donated the picture of the Queen. Wiarton Branch donated the gavel and our Zone Commander, Betty Smith donated our first minute book. The Royal Hotel donated a room for use twice a month where we held our Euchre parties. The Royal was where we held our meetings in the dining room. We held Sports night and sent out invitations to each Branch in

7 Zone C4. Approx. 100 people came and we charged 25? each person at the door. We sold tickets on two donated door prizes and gave donated prizes for the winners of the Cribbage and Euchre games. Every member had something to do, either work or donate. We had a lovely smorgasbord with everything donated by our members. Our refreshments were donated by some of the breweries and the Logion members looked after the bar for us. Over the next two years we had a couple more sports nights. At our meetings we always paraded on the colours and we had a birthday box, white elephant and penny auctions. At the end of the year we would buy a gift for Olive and Burt Bonser in appreciation for the use of the hotel. After a couple years our Legion members had a chance to buy the old school and finally did buy it for at a cost of $ One of the Legion members Comrade Tom Davison wrote out a cheque for the $ At the time the Auxiliary had $ in bonds so we gave the men $ for half the hall as they had very little money to work with. We cashed our bonds and bought the tables and chairs for the hall. On week-ends some of the Legion members worked on renovations and some Auxiliary members did the painting. We really enjoyed doing this. I think it brought a lot of our members closer together it was all volunteer work. Then we started to have our meetings, Euchre s, Banquets and Teen Town. The Legion men had their dances and later on they started Bingo. We stayed in this building until March 1976 when we moved to our new hall the former music auditorium.

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16 December 1984 The Children s Christmas party was held on Sunday afternoon with approximately sixty children in attendance. They were entertained with cartoon video tapes and Christmas music. Santa arrived to round off the afternoon and presented each child with a bag of candy, nuts and fruit along with a Christmas stocking with novelties, etc.

17 On Remembrance Day, November 11, a wreath is placed at our Hepworth Cenotaph, representing The Oldest Member. This has been done in the past by, John Hughes. He may not be the oldest in years, but is recognized as the longest standing member. He first joined the British Legion, and participated for two years. John then came to Canada in 1957 and joined the Royal Canadian Legion, the Rexdale (Irwin Road) Branch in Later, he came and joined the Hepworth Legion and is carded as a Canadian member for fifty-two years. John participated in World War II with the British Royal Navy, as a Leading Seaman, until John recalls signing up on Christmas Eve in 1940 and then on February 17, 1941 he was commissioned and given his uniform. He and his mates were pressed into service on Boxing Day 1941, to perform a commando raid in Vaagso (Norway) along with four destroyers, one cruiser and the commander ship. John also remembers in 1943 being part of a Russian Convoy. Also, in the Farrow Islands (between Scotland and Iceland), which the Brits took over from the Germans. Here it was a search and destroy mission of German U-boats that were being escorted by very fast German planes. His family must be very proud as we at the Hepworth Branch are. Thank you from all of the members and Ladies Auxiliary. At 87 years young, John has taken the position of Sgt-At- Arms and is teaching our future colour party.

18 Sun Times October 25/04

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20 Cindy s Variety Lotto Centre Movie Rentals Groceries Crafts Coffee Donuts Ice Cream Phone (519) Fax 499 Bruce St., Hepworth, Ontario N0H 1P0

21 RT Automotive 185 Queen St. West Hepworth, Ontario (519)

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38 FROM THE EDITOR I would like to thank the advertisers in this 50 th Anniversary Souvenir Publication for Hepworth Legion and Ladies Auxiliary. Over the years, we have had financial support from area business concerns, community groups, retailers, contractors, manufacturers, financial institutes, funeral chapels, the Town and more. I have witnessed, over the past five years, several legion projects come to fruition: a kitchen renovation, beautiful garden beds, office additions, revamped washrooms, improved furnace room and electrical room. The value of this Hepworth Legion is not the bricks and mortar. It is the unbelievable power of the members, who get the work done. Recognize the talent of the men that dig in and help with the chores at hand (and no pay). The ladies, who also give unselfishly of their time: to bake, make and serve meals, wash dishes and clean-up. Yet, they all have time to fundraise and organize community and local events, visit hospitals, take care of seniors, perform legion activities and school programs etc. These men and women of Hepworth legion are a living testament to the war veterans that sacrificed their lives to make Canada a great democratic country, with many freedoms. This legion membership has a resolve to keep us going through changing times, financial woes and decline in membership. The Royal Canadian Legion was created in 1926 as a social club for veterans. Therefore, there were no military ranks and everyone was a comrade. Today, the membership is open to all; you do not require a family military affiliation. Come join and receive self gratification when raising funds for our veterans, their families, various charities and seniors. Feel proud to be a CANADIAN, when you hand out a poppy or take part in a November 11 th Remembrance Day ceremony. Yours in friendship, Roger Rowland

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40 Legion Branch Legion Road, Hepworth Blast From The Past Weekend Celebrating 50 Years of the Hepworth Legion & Ladies Auxiliary The Ultimate 50 s Rock & Roll Show Performing the Explosive Hits of: Elvis Fats Domino Roy Orbinson The Everly Brothers Buddy Holly Chuck Berry Jerry Lee Lewis & many, many more. 8:00 p.m. Friday, July 23, 2010 Tickets: $20.00 Advance $25.00 at Door Call or Cash Bar Available