By Joanne Dorr
The Haldimand Press
CALEDONIA—After 73 years of supporting ex-service personnel and enriching the programs and activities of the Caledonia Legion Branch 154, the Ladies’ Auxiliary is surrendering the charter and disbanding. Their years of service to the veteran community were recognized at the Caledonia Legion this past Friday night.
Caledonia Legion Secretary Neil Bell offers insight on the history: “The Legion started in 1929; only veterans were allowed to join, and the vast majority of women were not veterans but might have had husbands or relatives who were serving. It wasn’t until later that they introduced membership for people who hadn’t served and is now at the point where anyone who supports the aims and goals of the Legion can join – you don’t have to be a veteran at all. When the Women’s Auxiliary was founded, the only way they could assist was to form their own separate group. Nowadays anybody can join the Legion.”
These women have been a welcomed addition at Legion branches as they volunteered to support ex-service personnel and the Legion’s programs. The Caledonia Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary (CLLA) applied for their charter in 1949 when the Caledonia Legion Branch was 20 years old.
The first president of the CLLA was Emiline Old and the last president will be Lynda Dunn. In 73 years the CLLA had 14 presidents, each of them holding long terms with each outgoing president mentoring their successors. For many of the current members of CLLA, their commitment to the Caledonia Legion and support of veterans and the community was in their DNA.
CALEDONIA—The Caledonia Legion shows its thanks for the 73 years of service given by the Ladies’ Auxiliary. Front (l-r) Jean Rent (past member), Legion President Brian Haggith, Mary Hubert (51 years)and Margaret Bernhardt (51 years). Back (l-r) Joan Kuzmickas (6 years), Ruby McWilliams (47 years), and Jean Bennett (past member). Absent: Lynda Dunn (51 years).
—Haldimand Press photo by Joanne Dorr.
Brian Haggith, President of the Caledonia Legion, says, “Lynda Dunn told me when she was a young girl she would come to help peel potatoes and carrots to help her mom. Her mom was an auxiliary member and the same with Mary and Margaret (Giffey). I believe their mother was heavily involved as well. Those three ladies were childhood chums, and they would volunteer as young girls getting dinners ready.”
Beyond helping with meals, Haggith added that CLLA also did fundraising and gave the money to the Legion to support their programs.
The Ladies’ Auxiliary catered countless events in the Legion banquet hall. Events like Remembrance Day dinners, weddings, funeral luncheons, and a variety of sports banquets would keep them all very busy each weekend preparing food, with some of the women doing this while working full time. CLLA would invoice their clients and donate back to the Caledonia Legion each year on November 11.
CCLA member Mary Hubert recalls, “At one time we were able to give them $10,000.”
CCLA members also recall writing cheques from their CLLA account to help pay insurance bills and other needed expenses. “That’s a lot of peeling potatoes,” exclaims Hubert, who along with her fellow retirees, agrees that disbanding the group was a very difficult decision as their time working in service to the Legion was rewarding and fun.
Dunn plans to transfer to Hamilton Legion Branch 163’s Auxiliary and Hubert and Bernhardt plan to spend more time volunteering at their church, St. Paul’s Anglican in Caledonia.
The Caledonia Legion has given each retiring CLLA member a Legion membership in the hopes they will continue to be a part of the Caledonia Legion family.
