July 2019 Royal Canadian Legion, Orillia, Branch 34 215 Mississaga St. E., Orillia, Ontario L3V 1W2 Vet’s Gazette Ken Neilson, Tyler Shepperdson and Peter DeVillers , Branch 34 Service Officer.. Tyler was presented with a Quilt of Valor. See story on page 7 In Flanders Fields Take up our quarrel with the foe, In Flanders fields the poppies blow To you from failing hands we throw Between the crosses, row on row, The torch; be yours to hold it high. That mark our place: and in the sky If ye break faith with us who die The larks, still bravely singing, fly We shall not sleep, though poppies Scarce heard amid the guns below. grow In Flanders Fields. We are the Dead. Short days ago Col John McCrae We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow Loved, and were loved and now we lie in Flanders fields. PAGE 2 VET’S GAZETTE Special Events Branch Officers Scottish Festival Carrie Dunn Angela Paylor 705-323-9759 President - Bob Thomas 705-325-4695 1st Vice President - Rick Purcell 705-330-4815 Special Committees Chairpersons 2nd Vice President - Jack Hird 705-619-3319 Legion Crest Complex Angela Paylor 705-323-9759 Treasurer - Pipe Band Manager Linda Buchanan 705-326-5470 John Cropper 705-325-0580 Sick & Visiting Bob Dimaline 705-259-0591 Neville Gale 705-326-1312 Bob Dimaline 705-259-0591 Ladies Auxiliary Officers President - Brenda Watt 705-325-8104 Ron McCron 705-687-7390 Ralph Bernard 705-259-0931 Immediate Past President Annette Mathias 705-955-1046 Theresa Bernard 705-259-0931 Jackie Verbeek 647-607-9071 1st Vice President - Bev Brennan 705-331-3195 Padre Gerry McMillan 705-329-0338 2nd Vice President - Sherry Campbell 705-715-8861 Padre Tony Rennett 705-326-9252 Secretary - Sick & Visiting Padre Terry Bennett 705-329-0289 Bev Brennan 705-331-3195 Sergeant-at-Arms - Ron Wood 705-326-8686 Treasurer - Carol Macksey 705-644-4020 Colour Sergeant - Colin Wackett 705-325-7874 Service Bureau – Peter DeVillers 705-326-2198 Sergeant-at-Arms Sandra Evans 705-915-1036 Membership - Annette Mathias 705-955-1046 Committees Sports Officer - Brenda Watt 705-325-8104 Poppy – John Cropper Executive Membership - Annette Mathias House - Jack Hird. Funeral Lunches Cathy Wackett 705-325-7874 Sports - Neville Gale. Monday Cards - Theresa Bernard 705-259-0931 Ways and Means - Ralph Bernard Seniors - Jackie Verbeek Soup & Sandwich Luncheons - PRO - Rob McCron Deb Stanton - 705-325-4240 Youth Education - Kate Palmer Ways and Means Convener, Retirements, Birthdays, Track & Field - Jamie McIsaac Anniversaries, Small weddings Bingo, Air Cadets, Minor Ball – Rick Purcell - Dorothy Cotter 705-955-1884 Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital - Chuck Penny Craft Show—Candy Cashen 705-826-7907 and Sherry Office Personnel Campbell 705-715-8861 Administrator Laura Simpson Phoning Captain - Sharon Ross Office 705-325-8442 Bar 705-325-1266 Address Vet’s Gazette Correspondence to: Kate Palmer, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 34 215 Mississaga St. E., Orillia ON. L3V 1W2 Phone (705) 325-8442 Fax (705) 325-3758 Our email address is: [email protected] Our Web Site is http://www.orillialegion.com JULY 2019 PAGE 3 President’s Ladies Auxiliary Report President’s Report Comrades, here is not much to report at this Comrades, time. I would like to thank the outgoing President Rick Purcell, ever say never is a term I often and the executive for their service use so here I am back as Tto the branch over the last 2 years. I also President of the Ladies Auxiliary. welcome back to the executive Ralph However, I do look forward to the Bernard, Neville Gale, Bob Dimaline and Nup coming year. I have a great executive John Cropper and our 2 new members, and welcome Dorothy Cotter and Annette Annette Mathias and Jackie Verbeek. Mathias, fairly new members to the Ladies Annette will be our membership chairman and Jackie will work with Jack on house, and Auxiliary. Dorothy will be our Ways and looking after the museum. I also want to Means convener and Annette will be looking welcome Rick Purcell as 1st Vice President after Membership. I would also like to and Jack Hird as 2nd. Vice President. welcome back Carol Macksey. Carol will be Our treasurer Brian Robertson has our treasurer. decided to step down, and we would like to We are a busy executive. In the thank him for his many years of time, and service, to the branch. Brian will continue as month of June we had four functions starting treasurer on the Poppy committee. with a wedding and finishing with the Sir I attended the church service and Samuel Steel parade giving us a total of parade, that was in recognition of Sir Sam approximately 395 people being served. Steele, 100 years after his death, on Sunday That’s a lot of sandwiches. June 23rd. finishing up here at the legion. Thank you to the great bunch of The Shriners provided an antique Fire Truck, ladies who volunteer their time for the which the dignitaries rode on . An antique Tudhope car was in the parade. The City Auxiliary. declared the 23rd as Sir Sam Steele day. Our dart team recently travelled to On Tuesday June 25th I had the Calender for Provincial Darts. honor of presenting the English Proficiency Remember ladies we have meetings Award to Charlotte Snake of the 8th grade in July and August. graduation class of the Mnjikaning Have a safe summer. Kendaaswin Elementry School. This was held at the Rama Mask Sports Complex. Yours in comradeship, There were 14 students graduating and moving on to high school. Congratulations to Brenda Watt all. Branch 34 Ladies Auxiliary President I hope everyone has a healthy and safe summer. Support Yours in comradeship The Scottish Festival. Bob Thomas President Buy a $2.00 Button PAGE 4 VET’S GAZETTE Ways and Means Stay Updated on the hank you to everyone who voted to Legions Pilgrimage of re-elect me to the executive for Remembrance on Social another term. I have successfully completed a food handling course Media Tand received my certificate on April 23rd. On April 26th we had our first BBQ of he Royal Canadian Legion the year with the proceeds to the Scottish Pilgrimage of Remembrance is set Festival. It was very successful. On May to embark on July 6 visiting 10th another BBQ was held and one for the significant commemorative sites Ride for Dad on May 25. Myself and Billie Tincluding, Normandy, Juno, Ypres and battled the elements for these events. Passchendaele. Upcoming events include a BBQ on Legionnaire Jim Perfitt will chronicle his July 12, another BBQ on August 16th and on and the group’s experiences reflecting on the September 6th there will be a Dinner and events and immense sacrifices of those who Dance with Charlotte and the Dirty Cowboys. served. Follow them on Instragram, Twitter The last BBQ of the season will be held on and Facebook. September 20. I wish you all a good summer, stay safe. General Meetings Respectfully submitted will resume on Ralph Bernard’ Ways and Means Chairman September 11 Dinner is served at 6:30 Membership with meeting to follow ur paid up membership as of May at 7:30 31, 2019 is 939 members and 79 In order to continue with unpaid.. At our general meeting the meals we MUST have in June we voted to accept six a minimum of 20 people Onew members. We also received an Early Bird Award from Provincial Command in in attendance. Don’t miss recognition of attaining 65% or more this opportunity for a renewals in 2018. We actually attained 71% really good dinner for as of November 30, 2018. I will continue to make phone calls to the members that have only $12.00 not yet paid for 2019. Then please stay for the Respectfully submitted meeting so we have the Annette Mathias quorum necessary to carry Membership chairman on the business of the branch. JULY 2019 PAGE 5 Ladies Auxiliary Past President’s Report Hello Comrades hat a difference a year makes! Not only did I learn so much but I made many wonderful The Branch 34 Poppy connections. I discovered that I Committee Wcould lead despite my inner challenges and follow when it was the best tfor our Invites all veterans to the organization. Mostly, I learned that as a group, we woman can accomplish pretty annual much anything! April: Once again, it was a very busy time with birthdays, retirements, weddings, funerals, businesses meetings, celebrations VETERANS’ of life and monthly branch suppers. Our soup and sandwich events have been so DINNER successful that we will need to increase our quantity, thanks to you! Tuesday, May: Along with all that, LA prepared a BBQ steak dinner for the Monday Evening Ladies September 17 Darts. The teams expressed extreme Dinner at 5 p.m. gratitude to the Ladies Auxiliary. I also attended an informative zone meeting in Midland that month. In the Vimy Room June: Again, we were very busy helping out Branch 34, the branch with celebrations, meetings and Royal Canadian Legion meals. Because of immense participation, all went very well. This invitation is extended to all veterans in With mixed emotion, I say that this is my last the Orillia area. If you know a veteran who report. I wish nothing but the very best to our you think would like to attend please let new leader, Brenda Watt. him/her know. The veteran DOES NOT have to be a Legion member. It has been a great honour! Respectfully: We will arrange transportation for those who need it. Theresa Bernard Immediate Past President, Branch 34 Ladies Auxiliary Call 705-325-8442 to book your spot RESERVATIONS WILL NOT BE TAKEN UNTIL AFTER SEPTEMBER 1ST PAGE 6 VET’S GAZETTE Sick and Visiting Comrades, n the past three months ending May 31st, Ray Canning, Colleen Payie, and I visited 28 Veterans, 36 Legion and ANAF Members, and 24 friends Iand acquaintances at Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital.