Ingersoll Legion Branch 119 celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Legion last Sunday with a parade and church service. The parade, which featured Legion members, politicians and the Ingersoll Pipe Band, marshaled at the town hall about 10 a.m. Sunday and marched along Oxford Street to St. James Anglican Church for a service. {Brian Cleeve photo)

Legion celebrates 75th anniversary

By YVONNE HOLMES MOTT

For The Ingersoll Times

"There is no higher good than to serve God and country and that is what the Legion does", Rev. Jim Carr told Legion members and other veterans on Sunday.

The 75th anniversary service was held at St. James’ Anglican Church and was attended by Legion members and other veterans from the eight branches within Zone B2. Representatives from Ingersoll, Beachville, Woodstock, Norwich, Tillsonburg, Tavistock, Thamesford and Embro branches took part in the service and the massed colour party.

Father Carr is padre of both Royal Canadian Legion Branch 119 Ingersoll and of Zone B2.

Tracing the Legion’s efforts since it was formed in 1926, he noted that 75 years later, members are still working to benefit veterans and their communities. He also referred to the Ladies Auxiliaries who contribute so much to their branches and communities.

Father Carr noted that the Legion with 450,000 members and 1600 branches has evolved into the largest service organization in the country.

He suggested that anniversaries were a good time to celebrate victories along the way and to give thanks to God for those victories and for dedicated leaders. "When we are serving the needs of others, we are serving God" he reminded them.

Father Carr also said the Legion, like the church, is living with an ever changing mandate Stressing the Legion must have a future, he believes it must focus on promoting patriotism, and urged increased visits to schools. "Our children must be taught Canada’s war time history. No one else is going to do it."

The Legion padre also felt the cadet program is a very important one. "Cadets learn self discipline and leadership."

His third reason for the Legion continuing to exist is "to help Canadians remember". He stressed, "The cost of our freedom was very high. It was a cost willingly paid by our veterans for the love of God and country. It must never happen again."

Perfect weather greeted the veterans as they formed up at the Town Centre. The Ingersoll Pipe Band led the mass colour party and the marching veterans to the church. Parade Marshalls were Bill Hawkins and Dick Scott.

During the service a surprise presentation was made to Father Carr. Past District Commander George Perry, of Highgate Legion presented him with his Past Padre’s medal from that Legion.

Greetings were brought by RCL District Commander Bob Sivyer, of Salford; Zone B2 Commander Bruce Julian, of Beachville; MP John Finlay; MPP Ernie Hardeman and Ingersoll Mayor Mike Hennessy.

Veteran Wally Naisbitt gave the children’s talk and the readings were given by veterans Bruce Borland and Art Presswell. The choir, under the direction of Ted Winter, led the singing and performed a special anthem.

During the Act of Remembrance, Last Post was played by John French and the Lament by Wilson McBeath. Poppies were placed by the zone padre, District Commander, Zone Commander, Branch presidents, Parade Marshall Bill Hawkins and Sgt. at Arms Dick Scott.

Flags and carriers stir our souls

What is there about a flag that stirs your very soul?

One flag will do it, but when you see a large group of them – about 40 - marched up the street, it is a glorious and magnificent sight. There were a lot of damp eyes on Oxford Street Sunday as Bill Hawkins and Dick Scott organized the 75th Anniversary parade to St. James Church.

It was partly the flags themselves, but also the fact that so many of the flag bearers were veterans, men and women who had fought for and won our freedom. The ones who were not veterans were people who had so much respect and gratitude for them. How could it not be a stirring sight? I understand there were 36 flags in all, some from each of the eight Legion branches within the Zone.

And that was another moving fact! People, many of them strangers, coming together because they all believed in a common goal. District Commander Bob Sivyer, says it is the first time in his knowledge, that there has been such a joint parade and service in Ingersoll. Indeed, a memorable sight and a memorable day!

When you think about it, warriors have been motivated by the sight of their flags for a long, long time. Think back to the Crusades and the literature and art related to that period. There is always mention of and or drawings of the knights with their flags.

A little more modern example is the famous painting of the Charge of the Light Brigade.

Contemporary art and movies are loaded with flag related situations, particularly war movies.

Your own flag is always very special to you, but when you see it in another country, it takes on even more meaning. Not a great advocate of the new Canadian flag when it first came out (Sorry, can’t help it, I was raised with the Union Jack) I was amazed at the chord it struck when I first saw so many of them flying at the Canadian embassy in Great Britain.

There are all kinds of flags. Each one means something different to different people. Flags must reach a core of decency in us, bring out the patriotism we are to blasé to show, make us stand a little taller and try a little harder.

And while I am on the subject of things that move you and proud moments, permit me to say that some of the proudest moments of your life have to come when you are in a position to sing O Canada with a large group of veterans. The song takes on even more meaning as you realize you are singing with the very men and women who kept this country free.