COVID Hits the Local Legion

It’s tough times at the local legion.  Even Remembrance Day services have been cancelled.  The flag will fly at half-mast and wreaths will be laid at the foot of the Cenotaph on November 11th, but there will be no service at the Cenotaph this year.  Legion members are encouraging everyone to stop at 11 am on November 11th to observe two minutes of silence in memory of all veterans.  It’s the least we can do.

Poppy donation boxes will be placed in local shops and organizations but there will be no one selling them outside stores.  Anyone wishing to donate is invited to contact the office at 705-932-2837 or President Diann Corfe at 705-932-2695.

Where do Legion donations go?  The Poppy Campaign is the single largest fundraising program for legions across Canada.  Revenue from poppy sales are directed to causes that resonate with legion members; ones that help veterans and their families.

One of these organizations is Wounded Warriors Canada.  Their mission is to create resiliency and hope for ill and injured veterans, first responders and their families, with the goal of helping those suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) get the help they need and deserve.

Members of our uniformed service professionals including Canadian Armed Forces, Police, Fire, Paramedic and Corrections Officers face a significant risk of exposure to traumatic events in the course of their work which can trigger mental health conditions including anxiety, depression and PTSD.   Each year roughly 1,600 CAF leave the forces for medical reasons, and a third of them have difficulty making the transition to civilian life.  Canadian research indicates that between ten and thirty-five percent of First Responders will develop PTSD.  Wounded Warriors delivers mental health services across the country to roughly 1,200 veterans, First Responders and their families every year through 330,000 hours of clinic treatment.

Legion members in Millbrook are eager for things to settle down.  While the club room is open for members, they miss their regular social events such as Pub lunches, bingo, euchre, darts games and even the monthly blood pressure clinics.  With social contact such a critical factor in the health and well-being of seniors in particular, their isolation is distressing.

The kitchen is cool and quiet without the regular meals and catered events, but some of the Ladies Auxiliary members have funneled their energy into making masks.  These are available at the Millbrook Farm Supply and Millbrook Foodland for $5 each.  So far, the farm supply store has sold more than $1000 worth.

While we can’t join together this year to give thanks to our veterans and armed forces in a public display of appreciation, we should give thanks none the less.  As we wear our poppies, their bright red colour symbolizing blood spilt on past battlefields, we will remember and honour those who helped forge a nation where, in the words of John Diefenbaker, we are “… Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in (our) own way, free to stand for what (we) think right, free to oppose what  (we)believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern (our) country.”  Each day we understand better how lucky we are to live in Canada.  KG

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