Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25

May 2017 DISPATCHRoyal Canadian Legion Br. 25

96 Great Northern RdSault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6B 4Y5

Phone: 705-945-8721Fax: 705-945-6372

Ladies Auxiliary: 705-256-2941Lounge: 705-256-6921

E-mail: rclbranch25@shawbiz.caWebsite: www.branch25rcl.org

At the end of their career

At the beginning of

theirs

RCSCC Royal

Sovereign

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BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC SUNDAY IS: MAY 7, 2017

President’s Report – Respectfully submitted by Wayne Paulencu

Found in the possessions of one of our deceased members, Pete Stewart, and is from the Branch 25 Legion Letter dated January 1952.

The Silent Navy

You brag of your glorious army,Your glamourous Air Force too,Do you ever think of the NavyAnd the job they have to do?

No sane man ever sails these seasAnd expects to live it through;So thank your stars you got fool tars,Who wear the Navy blue.

We don’t fly over your citiesOr march with a heavy pack,But the Navy always takes you thereAnd the Navy brings you back.

There is never more than a whistleAs we quietly shove off to sea,To protect your precious merchant shipsFrom the ruthless enemy fleet.

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No frantic crowds to see us off,No commotion in the town,And when we are lost in actionIt’s just another ship gone down.

We face the cold Atlantic,The icebergs, snow and sleet;No matter what the sacrifice For us there is no retreat.

We are beaten by the angry seas,Torpedoed by the Huns,Bombed by the enemy aircraft,And blasted by their guns.

We are freezing on the upper deck,It’s awful hot below;We are sea-sick, bruised and broken,But the convoy, on must go.

We guard your vital food supplies,Your planes, your guns and tanks;For your existence “Over There”To the Navy boys give thanks.

So give credit to your ArmyAnd your Air Force where it’s due,But we’d like you to rememberThat you have a Navy too.

Sent in by CPO Arthur Hendrickson.

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Membership – Respectfully submitted by 1 st . Vice-President Ernie Bremner

WWII VETS

Attention All WWII Veterans of Sault Ste. MarieFrom 2014-2020, Canada is marking the 75th anniversary of significant milestones in the Second World War. A commemorative pin and a certificate of recognition has been produced for those Veterans who served in all branches of the services during World War II (1939-1945), in recognition of their dedication and service.The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 is organizing a dinner to recognize the City of Sault Ste. Marie’s surviving Veterans and present them with the pin and certificate. This dinner is scheduled for Saturday September 23, 2017. We are requesting that all Sault Ste. Marie WWII Veterans contact the Legion, Branch 25 office at 705-945-8721 NO LATER THAN AUGUST 18 TH ., 2017 to register for this event. We will require the Veterans name, service number, the years they served and contact information.The cost of the dinner for the Veteran and one person to escort them will be paid by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25. This is available to Sault Ste. Marie WWII Veterans, regardless if they are a Legion member or not. Tickets may be available to other people intrested in attending the dinner, which will be determined after all the Veterans have registered for the event.We consider it an honour to help pay homage to our Veterans.

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Amanda Hicks Moss did a write up for the Sault Star titled: Central Algoma History Club off to Vimy; trip evokes special memories for some travellers” Excerpts only – but you can read it in the Sault Star in its entirety.

Mud. Explosions. Boredom. Lice. FriendsThis was trench warfareWhat was it like for those young men, some like my great grandfather William “Willie” Chevrier – when he was no oldr than 16 – to live, sleep, eat and fight in these deep ditches that characterized the battles of the First World War?Trenches were dug two metres deep and then topped with another metre of sand bags, these trenches were the place that soldiers on both sides of the war, called home.Soldiers feet were often wet and daily food rubbing was instructed as a means to prevent the onset of “trench foot”The British had learned from past wars that it was important to feet their soldiers well and, on average, soldiers took in roughly 3500 calories a day. However, I am sure they quickly tired of tinned corned beef – otherwise known as “bully beef” – hard biscuits, jam and tea. However, I am sue they did not tire, but likely looked forward to, their daily rum ration.Also written by Amanda Moss – the following exerpts from the Central Algoma History Club heads to France to celebrate Vimy centennial:His trip began at a train station in Mattawa, Ontario on May 8, 1916 – mine at the Sault airport on March 9, 2017CASS won the gold prize by raising $3,509 (one for every Canadian who died at Vimy – the prize a trip for 6 plus a teacher to Vimy, but we decided to take 12 and pay half

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price. In total 12 students and 4 chaperones boarded the plane to explore Canada’s battlefields and attending services to honour and celebrate the event that contributed to defining Canada as a nation, the Battle of Vimy RidgeThe fundraising efforts included a dinner at the St. Joseph Island Legion (Branch 374) and the sales of traditional ‘trench cakes”. At these events, students had the opportunity to visit with community and Royal Canadian Legion members. Through these interations, they were able to share what they had learned and tell others about the details of the trip. They were also able to learn from people who had been to Vimy.

To continue reading this expose – please visit the Sault Star webpage and search: Central Algoma History Club heads to France to celebrate Vimy centennial: and, Central Algoma History Club off to Vimy; trip evokes special memories for some travellers. Below is a picture of William “Willie” Chevrier

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2nd Vice-President Report – Respectfully submitted by Ed Rowe

Just a reminder that Honours and Awards is fast approaching with the celebration happening May 19th.If you know of anyone worthy of recognition, please let us know in the office 705-945-8721. We would like to honour as many of our hard working members as possible.

Treasurer’s Report – respectfully submitted by Carol Piper

Good news for our banquet room renters. Along with our already really reasonably priced hall, if you book both your stag & doe; doe & doe; or stag & stag AND your wedding here at the Branch, we will give you one free hall rental. Of course there are conditions that apply:a) Must have ladies cateringb) Must have an alcohol barc) Must pay for both up front and when the wedding is

done and there is no damage to our hall, we will return your hall rental fee.

Along with the BOGO, there is sensational ladies cooking with a varied menu and THE most reasonable prices. Give us a try – hall rental prices vary:With the ladies catering and an alcohol bar hall cost is $170 (all taxes in). That includes set up/tear down/clean up and the bartenderRemember also, you can be married in the hall just before your reception if you wish – we can supply names for decorators or officiants. Give us a call 705-945-8721 and spread the word.

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Also, i) We have recently started taking bookings for

Sundays. If you have a shower you want done or a small event, the hall cost is only $170 (all in)

ii)We have a small board room (~10-15 persons) that we book all the time for meetings – there is no charge for this hall, but we do accept donations.

iii) We do Celebration of Life events here. When you use our Lounge area there is no charge. You can bring in your own food or have the Ladies cater, we will set up tables as you require, the bar is open and the coffee is always on. Come and celebrate your loved one in a casual, friendly atmosphere.

As a fundraiser – we are having a Silent Auction downstairs in the Lounge from May 15-26. This will be open for ‘silent’ bids all day every day (that the branch is open). Please be generous – the funds will go into our ‘building fund’ and general coffers.

Now, the bad news!

Sadly with the new tax on alcohol, the increased cost of all alcohol and beer and the 3 minimum wage increases over the past 4 years, ALL of our bar prices will be increased – some more significantly than others, of July 1, 2017, We are sorry to do this, however, we cannot absorb these increases any longer. We realize that this is not a popular decision, but it is one that is necessary.

Thank-you for your understanding.

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THE SHRINE CIRCUS

The Shrine Circus will be coming to Sault, Michigan at the Norris Centre on May 14th. There will be two shows: 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm. Tickets will be available here in the office shortly and it will be in Canadian Dollars (savings there). Thank-you to Comrade Ken Anstice for bringing this to our attention. This is good family fun and all the proceeds to go the Shrine charities (usually children’s hospital)

Sports – Respectfully submitted by Carol Piper

Something new!!! There is a fundraiser set for May 5-7th., 2017 for YOUTH DARTS. This is a fledgling sport in our Branch and we encourage any youth willing to join or learn to come forward by leaving your name at the Branch 705-945-8721 and we will pass it along.

We will also be taking registrations for the District Track & Field event to be held June 11th., in Sudbury. As yet we do not have all of the information, but if you know a student who is interested in going to this one day event, we would be most happy to help. You can call the office at 705-945-8721 and give us the information, however, you will need to fill out the requisite permission forms when they do become available.We will certainly keep everyone up to date as quickly as we can.

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Reports Respectfully submitted by Mary Anne Martin

On June 17th., 2017, we will be hosting a 50th Anniversary of when Branch 25 officially opened the present site.

We will have artifacts on display which pertain to this era of the Legion.

We will also be dedicating the Board Room as the “Marilyn Patterson Board Room” at 2 PM.

As part of the celebration, there will be a pot luck luncheon in the lounge and a dance in the evening. The Legion Band will also be doing a concert.

There is still some fine tuning to do but will keep you informed as we go.

Sick & Visiting

I am in need of your help again. I am running out of small gift bags, especially plain ones for men. Again, I thank you for bringing in your magazines for delivery to the nursing homes, they really enjoy them.

Entertainment

Wednesday Nights are Jam nights – tuning at 8 – music and 9 – bring out your instrument and sing along with the gang in a ‘fire pit’ setting (even though there isn’t a fire pit) Geoff and the gang will welcome you.

Karaoke is still going every Friday night throughout the summer from 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM.

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The Friday night pool league is still at 7 PM. If you wish to play, just come out.

Saturday is free pool in the lounge from Noon until 6 PM (No free pool on Saturday May 20th – Celebration of Life – Frank Neilson)

The horseshoe league will be beginning soon, open to everyone – not competitive – just come out and enjoy Tuesday nights at 7

Saturday Entertainment in the Lounge from 8 PM – 11 PM is listed below:

May

6th – Full Circle 20th – Full Circle13th – Nostalgia Live 29th – Dusty Roads

We will be continuing the Saturday night dances throughout the summer. The list for June bands will be posted in the Branch and in the June Dispatch.

Also, once again I will be placing the donation box out on Saturday nights. This money is to offset the cost of having bands in the Lounge. The price of the bands ranges from $150 for two musicians and $200 for four. The more that goes into the donation box means less money coming out of the general account, and with more money in the box means I can hire other bands.

ST. VINCENT’S PLACE During May we are taking donations of good, clean clothes and non-perishable food items to donate to St. Vincent’s Place. Anyone with

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anything to donate, please come to the Branch and place in the boxes provided.

PLANTING YOUR SPRING GARDEN

Plant 3 rows of peas: 1 – peace of mind; 2 – peace of Heart; 3 – peace of soul

Plant 4 rows of squash: 1 – squash gossip; 2 – squash indifference; 3 – squash grumbling; 4 – squash selfishness

Plant 4 rows of lettuce: 1 – let us be faithful; 2- let us be kind; 3 – let us be patient; 4 – let us love ne another

No garden is complete without turnips

1 – Turnip for meetings; 2 – turnip for service; 3 – turnip to help one another

To conclude our garden, we must have Thyme

1 – thyme for each other; 2 – thyme for family; 3 – thyme for friends

Water freely with patience and cultivate with love.

There is much fruit in your garden, because you reap what you sow.

ALSO COMING IN JUNE

Scott Woods (fiddler) will be returning to the Branch on June 19th. Tickets are on sale now in the office or through

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the bar. Great family entertainment. There will be refreshments for purchase before and after the show – but not during the show. Cost is $25/adult and $15/child

Regular Entertainment

Monday 1:30 PM – Carpet Bowling upstairs - $2/person - last day is May 15th.

Monday 8:00 p.m. – band practice upstairs – everyone welcome

Wednesday Dances 2 PM – 4 PM - $2/person (last day for dances is the 17th. with the grand finale)

Pint & Nacho days (Tues/Thurs/Saturday) –a 20 oz. glass of your favourite draught beverage and get Nachos with cheese for $7.

Ladies Auxiliary Bingo every Thursday at 1:00 PM – try the new “Balls” game

Thursday 3:00 P.M. – Meat draw in the lounge - $1/spin. Vouchers won for either City Meat Market or Scale Meats

Friday of course is pool night – starts at 7 – just show up and play. There is also karaoke starting at 9. There are special prizes given out.

Saturday is free pool from Noon until 6 PM (excluding May 20th) and there are bands playing at night for your enjoyment

Cenotaph Report – Respectfully submitted by Bill BennettBiker Night

Starting May 1st., (weather permitting) we will be running our Biker Coffee Night under the canopy from 7PM –

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9PM. This is the fourth year we have been doing this and it is received very well.Coffee is 50 cents – everyone welcome. This includes all motorcycles, past riders, e-bike riders. Looking forward to another successful season.H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) has been kind enough to donate the funds to purchase two more picnic tables for your comfort – more seating. We wish to thank this group for their continued support – it is much appreciated.

Report on “Re-structuring” of Branch – Respectfully submitted by Rob Gardner – liaison to the Executive

There has been only one meeting with the group since inception of the committee. At this point, there is nothing to report other than the committee members are working hard at getting quotes and information.We will definitely keep you involved as the work progresses.

Wooden Poppies

It is getting to that time when we will start to think about planting our wooden poppies again. We will do this on D-Day (Tuesday, June 6th). The poppies look terrific in our side ‘garden’. The poppies are $10 each and will be personalized with the name of the person/group you wish to remember. These can be left here in the ‘garden’ or taken to gravesites – whatever you wish to do. Call the office at 705-945-8721 to order your poppy.

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Our wooden poppies have grown so much that Branch 374 has asked us for our template so that they can do the same thing on the Island.

If other Branches want to do the same, please let us know – there are no copyright/infringement problems, we will be happy to share. They look good!

This is my step ladder – I never knew my real ladder!!

LAST POST – WE WILL REMEMBER THEM(to date of printing)

Leamm E. DelhenyFrank NeilsonEnid Waugh

May Veteran Birthdays

Mary Ann Anderson, P.J. Vere, M.E.A. Martin, G.R. Rowe, H. Stuart Harris, J.A. Kohut, K.J. Legacy, L.S. Masters, J. Bomhof, T. Doddgs, James Scotland, Dora Hocken, Jacqueline Sykes, T. Orr, K. Preston, E.R.

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Bennett, D. Boston, D. Primeau, Allan Fell, D.S. German, Norm Hopkins, Harrietta Kindness, Jack Lalonde

MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY

April Monthly Draw Winners

$2000 – Glenn Mearow – Ticket #7257 $1000 – Peter Bain – Ticket #0038$500 – M. Vaughan – Ticket #7550

CONGRATULATIONS!!

April 2017 winners of calendar lottery

Rosanne Perreault, Brad Boyer, Dan Parise, J.P. L’Heureux, Tom Evans, Richard Beaulieu, Shirley Russell, Mitchell Moreau, Hather & Clint Baic, Marie Louise Ethier & Ray Baillargeon, Heathr & Clint Baic (not a typo), Heino Mincur, Terri Vaillancourt, Mitchell Moreau, Denise Pearson, Marg Beilhartz, Brooklyn Wilkins, Ray Sweeney, Lori Lehtimaki, Linda Infanti, Jane Paquette, Linda & Delvin Aude, Karen Willet & Bill Schryer, Dominic Parrella, Ted Springgay, Rosalyn Cockburn.

Upcoming Special EventsPasta Fundraiser is on for Wednesday May 24th. (Please note date change) $10/adult - $5/child (5-10 years) – Children under 5 are free.

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All you can eat regular or whole wheat pasta, salad, bread, tea/coffee and bread. Desserts are available to purchase.Pancake Breakfast is on Sunday May 28th., from 9:30 a.m. – Noon. Cost is $10/adult - $5/child (5-10 years) – children under 5 are free. Includes all you can eat pancakes w/ St. Joe’s maple syrup, breakfast sausage, scrambled eggs and fruit, coffee/tea

CANADA’S 150 TH

Since this is Canada’s 150th birthday, wouldn’t it be nice to celebrate the country our veterans have fought for by having a “Legion” Float in the Community Day Parade?

If anyone would like to help with this endeavour, or know someone with a truck and/or a flatbed we could use, please call us at the office 705-945-8721

DON’T FORGET WE STILL COLLECT

1. Pop Tabs: Every tab you bring in is gratefully received. Please continue to bring them. 2. Pop cans for the Shriners to compact and sell the scrap metal for donations to their hospital projects.3. ***Campbell Soup Company has stopped the practice of collecting soup labels. Thank-you to all who contributed in the past.***4. Canadian Tire Money is used for the children’s Christmas Party.5. Used eyeglasses are shipped to third world countries.6. Lock City Milk Bags . This project is really growing!. At $0.05 per bag, we are doing well. All of the

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money must be used for youth activities so we basically use it for our children’s Christmas party. Keep those bags coming in!! We can only recycle Lock City Milk bags, all other brands are discarded.

NEW OFFICERS

Our elections were held on May 3. The following are your new officers: President – Wilma Oliver; 1st. Vice – Ernie Bremner; 2nd Vice – Ron Rouleau; 3rd Vice – Bill Bennett; Secretary – Mary Anne Martin and Treasurer is Carol Piper.

Without input from our members, we will only stagnate. Congratulations to our new Executive and thank-you for your service to those who are not returning.

GOLF CARDS

Here’s a thought – think GOLF!! Think helping the Military Family Support Group here in the city – purchase a Golf Card for $15. There are deals from: Silver Creek, The Jewel - Grand Hotel (Mackinac Island), Sault Ste. Marie Golf Course, The Rock, Root River, Hessel, Black Lake, Cheboygan, Huron Pines, Indian River, Newberry, St. Ignac, Stone Ridge (Elliot Lake), Tanglewood, The Oaks and the Rock at Drummon IslandGreat value – go golfing and help out at the same time.If there is anything you would like to see in the Dispatch, please contact the Office, leave your suggestion and we can see if it will fit. If any Branch of the Military (cadets and family support group included) would like us to

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advertise something in our Dispatch – please do not hesitate to ask.

We are here to serve our Veterans, Members and our Community – please help us to do that.

Childhood Sweethearts

An elderly couple who were childhood sweethearts had married and settled down in their old neighbourhood. To celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary they walked down to their old school. There they held hands as they find the desk they shared where he had carved “I love you, Sally”. On their way home, a bag of money falls out of an armoured car practically at their feet. She quickly picks it up, and they don’t know what to do with it so they take it home. There, she counts the money and it’s fifty-thousand dollars. The husband says “We’ve got to give it back”, she says, “finders keepers” and puts the money in the attic. The next day two policemen are going from door-to-door looking for the money. One knocks on the door and says: “Pardon me, but did either of you find any money that fell out of an armoured car yesterday? She says No. The husband says, “She’s lying. She hid it up in the attic.”She says, “Don’t believe him, he’s getting senile.”But the policeman asked the husband to tell the story, well the husband says “When Sally and I were walking home from school yesterday”…….The policeman looked at his partner and says: “We’re outta here……”

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2015-17 Officers/Executive & Committee Chair

President – Wayne PaulencuPast President – Marilyn Isaacson

1st. Vice – Ernie Bremner – Sgt @Arms/ Membership2nd. Vice – Ed Rowe –Honours & Awards/

By-Laws/Cadet Liaison3rd. Vice – Ron Rouleau – Museum Curator/Service Officer

Secretary – Wilma OliverTreasurer – Carol Piper

Seniors/Entertainment/Sick & Visiting – Mary Anne Martin

Youth Education – Pat VardyBranch Padre(s) Rev. Phil Miller

Capt. Pat VardyMrs. Helen Smith

Bursary – Sean MacNamaraCenotaph – Bill BennettPRO – Debbie Rouleau

TOD/Cadet Liaison – Warren PihlajaBurial – Elane Turner

If there is anything any one of us can do, please do not hesitate to contact the office (705-945-8721). The Legion is here to help, please help us to do that.

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