Duane Hicks
Decades of volunteerism, along with commitment to the Legion and the local community, were recognized during the Legion Ladies Auxiliary Br. #29 honours and awards ceremony Saturday afternoon.
Among the many dedicated auxiliary members recognized was Clora McEvoy, who, along with Verna Zucchiatti and the late Mary Clinker, was honoured with a pin for an impressive 65 years of service.
McEvoy, who turns 92 next month, said she has remained dedicated all of these years because of all of the help the Legion Ladies Auxiliary provides to the community.
She added there’s also sense of camaraderie amongst auxiliary members that she enjoys.
“We work for our country,” McEvoy remarked.
McEvoy was a member of the Legion Colour Party for 54 years, and continues to be an active auxiliary member.
As recently as their Remembrance Day tea this past November, McEvoy volunteered as a greeter.
She also donates whenever she can.
Another longtime auxiliary member is Marie McDiarmid, who received her pin for 60 years of service, along with Elaine Bone and Joan Taylor.
When asked about her dedication to the local Legion Ladies Auxiliary, McDiarmid replied the group is a community supporter.
“I think we do a lot,” added McDiarmid, noting everything the auxiliary does is not always well-known because they don’t do it for the recognition.
McDiarmid has been an active auxiliary member for well over five decades. Only in the past five years has she had to step back due to health reasons.
But she still attends auxiliary events when she can.
A 75-year service pin was awarded to the late Nancy Shaw, who passed away in March.
Jean Hoffman and Martha Rogozinski were awarded pins for 55 years of service while Mary Ducharme, Alfreda Easton, Joanne Gosselin, the late Gladys Martin, May Matheson, and Gwen Westover were awarded pins for 50 years of service.
Charlotte Calder earned a 40-year service pin, with June Anderson, the late Helen Broman, Yvonne Chambers, Georgine Hayes, Eleanor Lockman, and Glenda Moran being recognized for 25 years of service.
The 20-year pin recipients this year included Sandra Bridgeman, Christine Eisenzoph, Esther Fedoruk, the late Elsie Hampton, Loretta Ivanovich, Judy Lindholm, Josie Miller, Marcia Shute, and June Wood.
Altogether, these pins account for 1,200 years of service.
“These ladies have volunteered many hours in the kitchen, serving at funerals, banquets, and teas,” noted auxiliary president Alfreda Easton.
“Some of these ladies have held many positions on the executive, and performed many duties behind the scenes that help our auxiliary,” she added.
“We have a great group of ladies in this auxiliary.”
Past Officer’s Medals were given out to Easton (past president’s bar), Josie Miller (treasurer), Leslie Bell (second vice-president), Christina McDougall (secretary), Linda LaRocque (sergeant at arms), and Irene Laing and Janet Lambert (membership).
Recipients of Certificates of Merit included the late Carol Affleck, Leslie Bell, Giselle Calder, Sue Drew, Cheryl Gartley, Vicki Jewell, Donna Lowey, Christina McDougall, Susan Neurinski, Lorene Ring, Randi Roth, and Marcia Shute.
A total of 17 special “Canada 150” pins also were given out to auxiliary members. These graciously were provided by local residents Wilna and Hubert Meyers, who originally hail from the Netherlands.
The Dutch are famously appreciative of Canada since Word War II, when Canadian forces led the liberation of the Netherlands and hosted the Dutch royal family in exile.
This year’s honours and awards ceremony was extra special as the local Legion ladies are celebrating 90 years of service to the community.
The auxiliary received its charter on May 2, 1927.
