The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

LEGION WITH ANNIVERSARY Wednesday Jnocll Legion grew from Winnipeg unity meeting Before World War I the armed er vices In Canada were represented by regimental association scattered units of various types and one Dominion The Army and Navy Veterans of Canada Membership to these groups was limited and most restricted to large urban centres Their activities were largely devoted to discus of service national functions and assisting needy comrades in distress Canada was unprepared for the holocaust of the Great War it was also unprepared far rehabilitation problems which arose when peace finally came Some idea of the Immensity of the pro blem is indicated by the fact that more than men had seen service near ly W were killed In action 138 000 were wounded and some 130 000 men were discharged medically unfit as a result of their service What the government suffered from most was lack of experience when deal lng with these problems Veterans on whose advice It depended lacked organization The obvious result was confusion and a lack of facilities to handle the multitude of problems Thegovernmenthadtoitart from sera with regard to war pott ion administration The world economic dilemma made matters worse An unemployed veteran returning to his homeland noticed wealth and pro sperity around him which had arisen dur the war as a result of increased In and specialisation drastically stepped up to meet the demands of the war machine The veteran returned to Canada his heart full of glory but belly empty Utile was being accomplished on hla behalf and he was hitter Under such complicated conditions some 14 or 15 national veterans groups sprang up between and 1915 They had no united voice effort At tempts were made to coordinate their but each groups objectives seemed different from the next and thus Ihoy appeared to work at cross purposes Unity was the only hope that the veterans had In order that their needs be fulfilled In the Dominion Veterans Alliance cameinloexlslence spurred by Iheplea of In particular Field Marshal Memorials helping needy among Legion projects Thepurposci objects of the Legion shall in to constitute on association of those have served or are serving in Her Majesty armed forces or anv auxiliary force and of others support the purposes and objects the Legion which association shall be democratic and sectarian shall not be affiliated to or con netted or with political port or b to bring about the unity of all who to further among them the spirit of comradeship and mutual help and the close and kindly ties of active Idi to pass on to their families and descendants the traditions for which they ie to perpetuate the and deeds of the fallen and of those who die in the future to promote and care for memorials to their valour and sacrifice to pro vide suitable burial to keep an an nual memorial day to preserve the records and memories of their ser vice and to see that such services shall not be forgotten by the nation to ensure that proper attention shall be paid to the welfare of all who have served and the welfare of their dependents and to see to the maintenance and comfort of those who require special treatment par ticularly the disabled sick aged and needy their dependents Commander Chief or the British Armies Having had experience with the growing pains of the British Legion he was Invited as guest speaker at a convention of all veterans in Ottawa In November IMS all organizations met In Winnipeg for a Unity Conference The Inspiration and dedication or men such as Earl llalg and General Sir Turner bore fruit The Legion was born and by July it was self supporting Considerable lime had been spent on the preparation of a Constitution and it Is Interesting to note that it was so well prepared thatfew changes have been round necessary to this day Prom Its inception the Legion quite naturally concerned Itself primarily with the battle for adequate pensions and other benefits for war veterans and the dependents of those who had lost their lives as the result of war Beneficial changes were effected but the Depression of the 1930s created a whole host of new problems The Legion was involved both in local endeavours and national undertakings in efforts to Improve the desperate conditions of veterans in most of Canada A development in this period was the introduction of the Allowance Act In This benefitted those aged by their experiences but who were not in most Instances eligible for war disability pensions With the advent of World War II the legion was revitalised by the demands made upon It and the influx of new members The during and mediately after the war was prodigious Canadian Legion War Services provided amenities such as entertainment can teens etc for the serving men both home and abroad Including the bat lldronts Canadian Legion Education Services provided correspondence courses and tutors to prepare the serv men Tor their return to civilian life Concurrently withlheseprograms the Legions was involved In a substantial way In the promoting of the most com rehabilitation program of by any government to Its men returning from war the Veterans Charter The many Acts that made up this Charter covered practically every aspect education medical treatment employment land settlement vocational training as well as the more conventional benefits such as disability pensions compensation J the University Training Program an opportunity or thousands of veterans professional talus believe had a marked impact on all aspects of Canadian life in the years With the adoption of the Charter the Legion task from complete however In the succeeding years Improved benefits were sought especially in gregard to disability and death pensions and War Veterans Allowance During the I960 an In vestlgat lng committee the Woods Com It tee studied In great depth the Pen skin Act and the operations of the Pen Commission The Royal Canadian Legion together with other terms organizations made many comprehensive presentations to this Committee of Improvements in the legislation In March 1971 a completely new Pension Act came into force Through a further study undertaken jointly by organiiatlons and the government a satisfactory new basis for upgrading pension rates was In traduced in July 1973 this took into ac count the relationship of war pensions to public service salaries as well as the previously adopted indexing use the Con Following the efforts made by the Legion after the war it sought new themes and now objectives It did not forget its responsibilities to the veterans simply expanded its endeavours to en compass community leadership In par involvement the develop ment in leadership has and will continue to reap rich rcuardi in future Ihi to educate public opinion nil national duties lo the icid th disabled sick aged to promote the welfare of the dependents in to foster loyalty among the public and education in the principles of patriotism duty and unstinted pubic j to strive for peace goodwill anil nations at the same lime advocating the by Canada of adequate and forces on land sea and in thi air for the defence of our and the discharge of those obligations which rest upon us by virtue of our partnership in the Commonwealth tki to support suitable undertakings for thetraining employment and the education of their children to preserve their statutory acquired and legitimate rights those of Ihcirdependentsand in so doing to offer the Legions cooperation those officially charged with the responsibility of administering such rights by federal or other governments ml to assist comrades now serving especially in connection with their and lo safeguard the interests of those dependents whilst they are in service in to assist exservicemen tosecurenol less than the recognized standard rates of wages 11 ft SubExecutive Committee The Royal Canadian Legion Sub Executive Committee Is composed of left to right Dominion Secretary NOT a member of Exec G Garceau Doml Vice President ford Dominion Chairman PG Dominion Williams Dominion Vice President Dominion VicePresident Hamilton Dominion VicePresident and left to right A Slacey Dominion First Vice President Dominion President Immediate Past President KG Jones Dominion Treasurer Chartered Accountants Goebelle Wagner Main south ACTON PRECAST CONCRETE PRECAST AND WEIL CASINGS CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR DIAMOND JUBILEE PETER P0MER0Y CHAIRMAN HONORARY BRANCH 120 MEMBER TIDY CAR 265 GUELPH ST GEORGETOWN 8776163 348 ST 8772282 INSURANCE LIMITED HOME BUSHES AUTO FARM MAHKEHSURAKCEANO 8775101 HALT0N TRAILER SALES RENTJ TAYLOR COACH I or Tauten 8774268