Legion celebrates

Times Reporter

 

The Strathmore #10 Royal Canadian Legion, the second oldest branch in Alberta, will celebrate 85 years since receiving their charter on Oct. 8. 

The celebration will be held at the Legion, and will run from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will be drink specials, snack trays, a birthday cake, and entertainment throughout the day.

“We want to welcome the community to come and help us celebrate that day, because really without the community’s help… that’s what our mandate is, is to serve the community and the seniors, and the ex-service personnel,” said Legion President Jenny Schumann.

Previous to 1926 the Legion was known as the Great War Veterans’ Association. When current members of the Legion worked on the expansion in 2004, they were surprised and happy to find historical records from the early 1920’s. 

“Why they did it, we’re really not sure why… when we were taking down these walls and stuff and all of a sudden there was newspapers, and then these (cancelled cheques) were found throughout different parts of the building,” said Schumann.  

There were cheques from 1924 to 1926 and enough 2-cent war tax stamps to go with every cheque that would have been written. There was also a beret, and newspapers in the walls.