Large crowd attends Veterans Appreciation Dinner
Royal Canadian Legion Fort Malden Br. 157 welcomed a packed house of veterans and their families and supporters on the weekend.
For the third straight year, the Amherstburg Legion held its Veterans Appreciation Dinner with roughly 130 meals served last Sunday night. That included those in attendance at the Legion, meals that were delivered to local veterans and take-out orders.
Legion Br. 157 president Shawn Wilkie said he joined the Legion several years ago and has gotten to know a lot of veterans.
Wilkie recalled a veteran questioning him about his presidency as Wilkie is not a veteran himself, but Wilkie said he has had family members serve in the military. He vowed never to let their memories or the memories of other veterans and their service fade away.
“If we don’t continue to remember it, it will fade away,” he said.
Wilkie said veterans have left “a legacy of sacrifice” and remembering it should occur every day, not just on Remembrance Day.
“Remembrance Day is not a day of celebration, it’s a day to remember,” he said. “If we don’t remember every day, it will fade and I will not allow that to happen.”
Membership in Legion Br. 157 has swelled to roughly 730 members, Wilkie pointed out, and he credited the people of Amherstburg for that.
“People in this town want to remember and they want to join,” said Wilkie.
Wilkie urged people to continue to remember the service of veterans and those continuing to serve all year round.
“Please continue to remember every day,” said Wilkie “Thank you for what you’ve done, your sacrifices and thank you for allowing me to be your president,” said Wilkie.
Wilkie also thanked the volunteers at the Legion for helping to prepare and serve Sunday night’s meal.
“This is what keeps the Legion around,” he said. “This wouldn’t have happened without them.”
Capt. Ernie Gazdig CD noted that among the membership of Legion Br. 157 are 135 veterans or serving soldiers. He said they all share a common bond of service with veterans and that bond is their service that carries forward.
The world is a more volatile place since the last veterans’ dinner, Gazdig added, and veterans have stepped up and are sharing their legacy with serving members of the military.
Mayor Michael Prue said he and his wife Shirley were delighted to be among the veterans and Legion members at the dinner.
Prue said the Legion and the town itself are both wonderful, noting when they moved to Amherstburg 17 years ago they were immediately welcomed by people including many at the Legion.
Prue noted the strong membership at Legion Br. 157 and said it is growing because the people at the Legion and the community as a whole respect veterans and want to pass the legacy to future generations.
“I want to thank you from both of our hearts, especially to the veterans, for what you’ve done for the country and this branch,” said Prue. “Veterans fought the good fight and put yourselves in harm’s way.” Prue also acknowledged the tragedy at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright where four soldiers died in a fire and dozens more were injured. He said they were preparing to serve their country in Latvia.
“Remember them always,” he said. “Remember the heroes and all those who have served.”
Rev. Lisa Poultney of Christ Anglican Church and the chaplain of Legion Br. 157, also paid tribute to the veterans and said she is proud to serve the Legion. She said if they need her assistance, all they have to do is ask.
“That’s what I’m here for,” she said.
As Remembrance Day occurs today, the same day this issue of the River Town Times gets distributed, coverage will be in the Nov. 18 print edition. We will get photos and the story on our website, www.rivertowntimes.com, later this week and have additional photos on our social media channels.
Large crowd attends Veterans Appreciation Dinner
By Ron Giofu
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