Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25
DISPATCH
Royal Canadian Legion Br. 25
96 Great Northern Rd
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6B 4Y5
Phone: 705-945-8721
Fax: 705-945-6372
Ladies Auxiliary: 705-256-2941
Lounge: 705-256-6921
E-mail: rclbranch25@shawbiz.ca
Website: www.branch25rcl.com
Month of: February 2014
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1.
2.
3.
Quote of the Month
Elbert Hubbard said: Do not take life too seriously.
You will never get out of it alive.
Ellen DeGeneres said: My grandmother started
walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She's
ninety-seven now, and we don't know where the
hell she is.
I
love
animals
–
they’re
delicious.
President’s Address – Respectfully submitted by Wayne
Paulencu
Well, hasn’t January been a pleasure. If you don’t have
enough snow by now, feel free to come over to my place
an take all you want.
It has been a rather quiet month so far. With the passing
of Kathy Summers, Comrade Rob Gardner has elected to
do the secretarial work for the interim. He will be sworn
in at the February general meeting.
Our new entertainment and special events chairperson
has got some great ideas coming up.
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 We will be having a dinner/show on February 21st with
Webb Surround.
 The L.A. Appreciation dinner is schedule for February
28th.
 We had our joint L.A./Branch meeting on January 20th,
all went well, some groups or persons are not talking
to the L.A. about dinner menues. I strongly suggest
that the L.A. be brought up to speed on this.
 There will be an Article III seminar at the Thessalon
Branch on February 22nd.
To all Comrades at home or shut-in, we are thinking
about you.
GHURKAS
The British Army was so impressed with the fighting of
this class of Nepalese people in the India/Ghurkha
War of 1814-1816 that they set about to hire them for
service. They were initially hired as mercanaries into
the British forces and remain so until today.
As such, they are not subject to all of the Geneva
Convention rules and do not get away with actions
undeclared by military sources.
The battle cry is “Glory to the Great Kali, Gorkhas
approach”. That incidentally is their name in Nepal.
British field Marshall Sam Mathesaw said, “If a man
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says he is not afraid to die, he is lying or he is a
Ghurkha”.
They became a full part of the British Army in 1857
assigned to the British India Army. Their record speaks
for itself.
WWI, 200,000 served with 20,000 casualties and with 2
gallantry awards. During the wars they fought against
many frontier skirmishes surrounding India.
WWII – they formed 10 Regiments with 2 Battalions
eventually climbing in number to 43 Regiments. 250,000
served with 32,000 casualties and 2,754 gallantry
awards.
Korea and Afghanistan followed.
The ranking structure follows the British yet;
commissioned officers are formed under a Viceroy’s
commission and are one rank lower than the British rank
shown. As such, they could not command any troops in
the British Army.
This rank structure was also
implemented into the troops pension plan until 2007.
This seems to be a crime, when they were awarded 26
V.C.’s from 1911 to 1965.
Yes, they still wear the Kukri, but it is now of stainless
steel instead of rolled steel.
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Treasurer’s Report – Respectfully submitted by Carol
Piper
There are some wonderful groups that come to the
Legion who support us in every way that they can. One
of these groups gave us healthy donations and we would
like to thank the Pool League for their generous donation
of $1000.
Membership – Respectfully Submitted by Wilma Oliver
The 2013 membership year has closed and anyone
whose dues have not yet been paid will no longer
receive the Legion Magazine until such time as dues are
paid.
We have lost four more veterans this past month, and
we’ve had on request for transfer approved by the
executive.
As of this writing, I still have not received a report
regarding our early bird campaign. I’m told it should be
here by mid-February.
Please look for opportunities to encourage your friends
and family members to join our great organization. We
really need new members to keep our Legion viable.
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Service Officers – Respectfully submitted by Don Oliver
SOLDIERS’ AID COMMISSION FACT SHEET
Who are We?
There are 7 people on the commission – 6 commissioners
and 1 chairperson.
We are all volunteers, we are NOT paid for this work.
We are reimbursed out of pocket expenses.
We meet each month to review all requests for help.
It is our job to decide if each request meets the rules for
help. It is also our job to decide how much financial help
to provide.
How we Help
We offer veterans a grant to solve a specific problem. A
grant is a specific amount of money. In our case, this can
be up to $1500 over 1 year, unless under very special
circumstances.
We help Veterans and their Spouses pay for:
 Hearing aids and other items related to health,
eyeglasses and dental needs
 Repairs, moving costs, items of furniture, roof and
heating equipment (repair or replacement); and
 Assistive devices, wheelchairs and prosthetics
(artificial limbs, etc.)
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We do NOT provide financial help on an ongoing basis.
For example, we cannot help to pay for rent each month.
Who can Apply
1. Veterans and Spouses can apply if they:
 Live in Ontario
 Need financial help
 Served overseas or had active service during the
Second World War or the Korea War; or joined an
Allied Force.
How to Apply
Applications to the fund can be made through your
Branch Service Officer or Provincial Service Officer
either of whom can also provide assistance in
completing the benevolent application form.
THE FUNERAL AND BURIAL PROGRAM
Open Letter from the Department and Response
These two letters cover the ins and outs of the Funeral
and Burial Program delivered by the Last Post Fund on
behalf of Veterans Affairs Canada.
Setting the record straight on the Funeral and Burial
Program for our Veterans
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A new report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer has
put our Funeral and Burial Program for Veterans in the
media spotlight again.
Unfortunately, the recent coverage has often only
repeated a number of persistent myths about what is a
very important program. I would like to take this
opportunity to set the facts straight.
The first myth about our Funeral and Burial Program is
that it is only available to “traditional Veterans” – the
men and women who served during the Second World
War and the Korea War. This simply is not true.
Through our program, we help lay to rest all Veterans
who die of a service-related disability.
We call this a “matter of right”, and it applies to these
Veterans whether they served in France or Korea or if
they served in Bosnia or Afghanistan. We are here for
all of them.
For full text….LGen Walter Semianiw, Assistance
Deputy
Minister
Policy,
Communications
&
Commemoration Veterans Affairs Canada
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Myths & Facts about the Funeral and Burial Program
The recent letter circulated by LGen. Walter Semianiw
of Veterans Affairs Canada concerning the federal
government’s Funeral and Burial Program clearly sets
forth the facts about the program in an understandable
way. These facts are also listed on the Web sites of the
Last Post Fund and Veterans Affairs Canada.
Unfortunately, several facts are missing from that
letter. Allow me to place them before you.
First, all Veterans groups across Canada have been
advocating for almost 15 years that: the government
increase the funeral allowances for Veterans; that the
estate exemption be set at a more reasonable level (it
was cut in half in 1995 and disadvantages many
Veterans’ survivors); and that Modern Day Veterans
(those who have served in the Canadian Armed Forces
since the end of the Korea War) be included in the
Funeral and Burial Program on the same basis as
traditional Veterans.
I am proud that the government has addressed one of
our concerns and doubled the funeral allowances that
we have advocated for so long. I am disappointed
that it did not address the remaining two issues.
For the full text……LGen L.W.F. Cuppens (Ret’d) Last
Post Fund Honorary Treasurer.
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Circular No. 09-13 – Dominion Command Royal Canadian
Legion
Dear Branch President:
This September another partner has joined the Royal
Canadian Legion (RCL) Member Benefits Package
(MBP). We Care Home Health Services is one of the
largest home health care providers within Canada and
are offering Legion members a 10% discount from
support for bathing and dressing, housekeeping,
nursing services, pediatric care, line-in care, remote
health monitoring, transportation to and from
appointments and relief for family caregivers.
For more information on their services visit the newest
RCL MBP partner on the Legion website at:
http://legion.ca/Home/MBP e.cfm or on their website
at: www.wecare.ca.
You can also call them at 1-855-229-3227 or find more
information on page 9 of the September/October 2013
issue of the Legion Magazine.
Along with We Care, there are 10 other partners
offering discounts and savings on products and services
you use every day including: Premier Care in Bathing,
Arbor Memorial Services Inc., Ancestry.ca, Dell Canada
Inc. Connect Hearing, Medipac Travel Insurance,
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Home Hardware, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Philips
Lifeline Canada and NBNA Canada Bank.
These partnerships are not only providing direct benefit
to members, but also incentives for membership drives.
They have also offered their expertise to help Dominion
Command save money and time, for examply Carlson
Wagonlit Travel has helped with both the Youth
Pilgrimage and the 2014 Dominion Convention in
Edmonton.
Dell has a discounted computer package specifically
with branches in mind while partners like Connect
Haring, Lifeline and We Care are happy to offer
educational sessions on health at interested branches.
Effective July 1, 2013 please note that Relocation
Services, Travelodge Canada and PPG Architectual
Coatings (formerly ICI Paints) are no longer partners in
the RCL MBP. Any member who purchases products
from these organizations will no longer receive the RCL
MBP discounts from them.
Legion members do so much for Veterans and in the
community and it is a great pleasure to provide this
variety of benefits for them. They are free to take
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advantage of great offers, savings and discounts on
products they use every day.
The savings available to Legion members can pay for
your membership many times over.
In comradeship and wishing you all success with branch
operations throughout the year. – Gordon Moore,
Dominion President
SHERRY CULLING, Provincial Service Bureau Officer, will
be in the branch during the week of February 24, 2014.
Please contact the Branch 705-945-8721 have h your
name and phone number and reason to speak with
Sherry available. An appointment will be set up for
you.
Sports – Respectfully submitted by Marilyn Patterson
The Zone Darts took place on January 11, 2014. Only 2
teams showed up and they were both from the Sault.
The team of John Mousseau, Jude Cormier, Tom Holko,
Gerard Massee came first and the team of Tim Schryer,
Tom Van Hoof, Darcy Stewart and Greg Stewart was
second. In doubles first plce went to Darcy Stewart &
Greg Stewart, second to Tim Schryer & Tom VanHoof
and, Third to John Mousseau & Jude Cormier, fourth
was Tom Holko & Gerard Masse.
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Greg Stewart was first ins singles, followed by Tim
Schryer, Tom VanHoof, Darcy Stewart, John Mousseau,
Tom Holkko, Jude Cormier & Gerard Massee.
The team of Tim Schryer, Tom Van Hoof, Darcy Stewart
and Greg Steward went to West Ferris near North Bay
the following weekend and came home with the team
first place trophy! CONGRATULATIONS to all. Tim &
Tom also placed in the doubles and Tim placed first in
singles. All of these sharp shooters will be off to Port
Credit to the Provincial tournament on March 15. They
have been top in Ontario before and represented
Ontario at Dominion, so hopefully this year is shaping
up for them and they will be successful in going to
Dominion again. I am sure we all wish them well.
Youth Education respectfully submitted by Marilyn
Patterson
The results are back for the Zone Poster & Literary
Contest winners from the past Remembrance Day. I
thought many of the entries we received were quite well
done, but apparently the competition was very high. We
did have one first place winner, Eric Jalbert, in the
intermediate coloured poster category and a second
place entry by Sara Ann Couturier from Korah Collegiate,
in the senior poem category.
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Congratulations to both of them and also to all the others
whose entries were sent on to the Zone level.
Our Public Speaking Competition will take place on
Saturday February 15, 2014. In the morning as many as 18
primary students will stand before us speaking about
dancing, pets, trips, hockey, their family and many other
objects. The judges will have the difficult decision of
deciding who will come first, second and third out of all
those speakers! Starting at 1:00 PM we will go through
the same procedure with the Junior speakers (grades 4, 5,
6) and the Intermediate speakers (grades 7, 8, 9).
If you have never attended a Public Speaking event, come
to this one! It will be very entertaining, and you will go
away amazed at the speeches that many of these young
people present.
By The Way:
1. Veterans can park FREE at the hospital!!!! Have a
Veteran Plate, your Veterans Card or DVA card. Pick up
the phone, speak with security and they will let you out
free. Your Legion Ordinary membership card will work
too. Great news!!
2. In the office, we have order forms for the Lung
Association Tulip Day. We can take order up to
Friday February 14.
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If you wish to support this group, please order through
the office for delivery March 5, 2014. Cost is:
$7/bunch; $20 for a bundle of 3 bunches; pots are $9
each and a bundle of 3 pots is $25. Your cash or cheque
will have to be given upon ordering. You can order on
line at: www.tulipday.ca if you wish.
Bursary respectfully submitted by Sean MacNamara
MARCH will soon be here and the last Friday in March is
when you child or grandchild must have their bursary
request in to Provincial Command. The student may
receive up to $500 which would assist in the purchase
of a text book or two! Make sure you inform them of
this opportunity! Applications submitted on time and
fully filled out are usually granted the bursary. Basic
rules to follow.
Many of our veterans and members are not aware of
the Ontario Legion’s Bursary Program. The program is
designed to assist those students who enter a postsecondary school of education and pursue the same
course throughout their academic years (maximum of 5
years).
Applications are open to:
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



Canadian and Commonwealth War Veterans and
their children and grandchildren.
Ordinary and Life members of the Royal Canadian
Legion and their children and grandchildren.
Associate members of the Legion and their
children.
Ladies Auxiliary members and their children and
grandchildren.
Application forms are available from the Branch office or
from the Ladies Auxiliary office. All rules and regulations
are available from the office. The maximum award to a
student may vary from $300 up to $500 for each
academic year. At the price of text books now-a-days
that might cover a book or two.
Applications must be received before the last Friday of
March deadline in any scholastic year for consideration.
Both the Branch and the Ladies Auxiliary contribute large
sums of money to the Provincial Bursary Program every
year. If you, your child, or grandchild is going to a postsecondary University or College, please make sure they
are aware of this program.
If you haven’t already
COME INTO THE OFFICE AND PICK UP AN APPLIATION
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Senior’s Report respectfully submitted by Mary Anne
Martin
The next big event will be Mardi Gras on the first of
March. It will be New Orleans Style (no topless please)
and there will be prizes for the best costumes. Music for
this will be by The Happy Days Band and the mean will be
Italian, which consists of pasta, meatballs with chicken
and potatoes. The tickets will be $20 per person and are
on sale now.
Due to low balances in the Lottery Accounts, there will be
no Seniors Bus Tour this year.
Coming in May there will be a 9-ball Pool Tournament.
The dates for this will be in the next dispatch.
February in History
Feb 4, 1924 – Toronto Granites win hockey gold at the
First Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France
Feb 14, 1915 – WWI – First Canadian Division arrives in
France from England moves into Flanders, France
Feb 15, 1965 – New Flag – Red & White Maple Leaf.
Feb21,2002 –Canadian Women’s Hockey team defeated
U.S. 3-2 in gold medal game at Salt Lake City Olympics.
Trent Evans (icemaker) buried a looney under centre
ice.
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LAST POST – WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
(to date of printing)
Dr. Wm. Sullivan
Wilfred Dixon
Gerald Gibbs
Bernard John McComiskey
Harold Davies
February Birthdays – Many Happy Returns
Belated birthday greetings to our Entertainment Chair –
Joanne Bremner.
February birthdays - Wm.
Benninghaus, Ronald Bridge, Ralph Forfar, John Greely,
Wm. Huckson, Brian Miron, Rick Thorold, Cecil Smith,
Stacey Budge, Lawrence Gorman, Clarence Holmberg,
Laurie MacKenzie, Mel Mizzi, Gerland Ryder, Marland
Smith, Pierre Breckenridge, Arthur Darlow, Doug Spurr,
Brian Holmberg, James McGrath, Ronald Wilson
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Odds & Sods
ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 60 YEAR OLD
This is a test for ‘older kids’ – if you get stuck for the
answers – ask Helen in the Office.
1. After the Lone Ranger saved the day, and rode off
into the sunset, the grateful citizens would ask:
“Who was that masked man?” Invariable, someone
would answer: “I don’t know, but he left this
behind” What did he leave behind?__________
2. When the Beatles first came to the U.S. in early
1964, we all watched them on The _______
________ Show.
3. Get your kids ___ _____ ___.
4. “The Story you are about to see is true. The names
have been changed to __________ the
___________.
5. In the jungle, the mighty jungle, ___ ____ ______
_______.
These are the first five – next month we will have the
next five.
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DID YOU KNOW: (from didyouknowblog.com)
 Didaskaleinophobia is the fear of going to school
(did ask a lein o phobia)
 Hydrangea flowers are natural pH monitors –
when planted in basic soil they are pink, when
planted in acidic soil they turn blue.
 The inventor of the chocolate chip cookie sold the
recipe to Nestle Toll House for a lifetime supply of
chocolate.
Legion Lottery
How much do you spend on a lottery ticket?? - $20??
How many chances do you have to win on that ticket?? –
2 or 3???
With the Legion Lottery, you have 365 chances to win
multiple times during the year.
The least you can win is $50, the most $1000. All
proceeds are given locally and there are only 2,500
printed.
We will even throw in a 2014 calendar.
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January 2014 Calendar Winners
Cathy Lepine, Mr. & Mrs. R. Wrona, Heather & Dino
Vommaro, Jen Poirier, Dan Robb, Harald Kjevik, Maria
Tinker, Helen Reihl, Merl Boyer, Patti Lynn Boston, Mike
Cairins, Michelle & Cory Bell, Louis Bumbacco, Nancy
Bailey, Nancy Alexander, Michael Boston, Mildren St.
Pierre, Norm Stewart, Eric & Diranda Hammerstedt,
Joseph Plastino, Doug McFarlane, Adam Bertrand, Dave
White, Chuck & Leona Kohvakko, Nancy Davie, Mary &
Gord Hanuschak, Mia Pauze, Tom Carmichael, Kelly
Burton
January Monthly Draw Winners
Leslie Booth
Scott Powley
Dorothy Kozak
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Upcoming Events
February
 Saturday 8th – Red & White and Silent Auction (info
below)
 Sunday 16th. – Bon Soo Cribbage tournament & Silent
Auction (info below)
 Saturday 22nd. – WebbSurround Dinner/Show Tickets
$20 member - $25 non-member
March
 Saturday 1st. - Mardi Gras with the Happy Days Gang
 Saturday 8th - Zone Mixed Darts
 Friday/Saturday 21st & 22nd – Zone Convention
April

5TH - JIMMY G’S is coming– Hypnotic Comedy Show
Tickets available in Office or at the bar.
$20 in advance - $25 at the door.
Red & White Dance in conjunction with Bon Soo
Saturday February 8th. The bar is open at 7 PM with
music by Flathead Ford (50’s-60’s music) beginning at
8:00 PM – food is available and it will be the first day of
our one week silent auction. Tickets are $10 available in
the office/bar.
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Cribbage Tournament – Sunday February 16th.
Registration is at 12:15 PM. Tournament begins at 1:00
pm. Early registrations can be taken at the bar. $15/2person team. Food is available. This is the last day of
our Silent Auction.
Please contact Tom at 705-206-2988 for more
information on these events.
*LEGION FUNDRAISER AT SAULT THEATRE WORKSHOP*
Preview Performance – ONE NIGHT ONLY – All proceeds
to Branch 25.
A Soldier’s Heart by David French – Directed by Brent
Vallee.
David French’s award-winning and ongoing dramatic
cycle about the Mercer family has become a defining
part of Canada’s theatrical history.
With Soldier’s heart, French looks back in time at the
thoroughly alienated 16-year-old Jacob, standing on a
railway platform, his suitcase and one-way ticket away
from home in hand.
His father Esau, a veteran of the First World War, rushes
to the station in a last ditch effort to persuade his son
not to leave.
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This compelling play is hosted at the Sault Theatre
Workshop Studio Theatre, 121 Pittsburgh Avenue on
April 22nd., 2014 – 8:00 pm curtain. Adults are $20,
seniors are $18, and students are $7. Tickets are
available in the Office or at the Bar.
Go and watch a great play and support your Legion at
the same time.
Office Hours:
November – April
Monday & Wednesday – 9 am – 1 pm
Tues/Thurs/Friday – 8:30 am – 4 pm
Lounge Hours
Monday –Thursday – 1:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Friday – 1:00 pm – 1:00 am
Saturday – Noon – 11:00 pm
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Jokes of the Day
1.
A Michigan State Trooper pulled a car over
on I-94 about 2 miles east of I-275. When the trooper
asked the driver why he was speeding, the driver said
he was a magician and juggler and was on his way to
Detroit to do a show at the Shrine Circus. He didn’t
want to be late.
The trooper told the driver he was fascinated by
juggling and said if the driver would do a little
juggling for him then he wouldn’t give him a ticket.
He told the trooper he had sent his equipment ahead
and didn’t have anything to juggle.
The trooper said he had some flares in the trunk and
asked if he could juggle them. The juggler said he
could, so the trooper got 5 flares, lit them and
handed them to the juggler.
While the man was juggling the flares, a car pulled in
behind the patrol car. A drunken guy got out,
watched the performance, then went over to the
patrol car, opened the rear door and got in. The
trooper observed him and went over to the patrol
car, opened the door and asked the drunk when he
thought he was doing.
The drunk replied, “You might as well take me to
jail, cause there ain’t no way I can pass that test.”
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2. Please join me in remembering a great icon of
the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Dough
boy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma
complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He
was 71. Dough boy was buried in a lightly greased
coffin.
Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects,
including: Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the
California Raisin, Betty Crocker, the Hostess
Twinkies and Captain Crunch. The grave site was
piled high with flours.
Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly
described Dough boy as a man who never knew how
much he was kneaded. Dough boy rose quickly in
show business, but his later life was filled with
turnovers. He was considered a very smart cookie,
but wasted much of his dough on half-baked
schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, he still
was a crusty old man and was considered a positive
roll model for millions.
Dough boy is survived by his wife, Play Dough, three
children: John Dough, Jane Dough and Dosey
Dough, plus they had one in the oven.
He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.
The funeral was held at 350 for about 20 minutes.
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3. From the mouth of Bill Cosby:
“My children love my mother, and I tell my children
“That is NOT the same woman I grew up
with….That is an old woman trying to get into
Heaven now.”
This month we are trying to put in a crossword puzzle
for your entertainment. I am not sure if it can be
done so if you see it in here, then the publisher has
been able to enclose it, if you don’t see it here, just
ignore this message.
If there is anything you would like to see in the
Dispatch, please contact the Office, leave your
suggestion and we can see if it will fit.
If any Branch of the Military (cadets included) would
like us to place something in our Dispatch – please do
not hesitate to ask. We are here to serve our
Veterans, Members and our Community – please help
us to do that.
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2013-15 Officers & Executive
President – Wayne Paulencu
Past President – Marilyn Isaacson – also TOD
1st. Vice – Ernie Bremner – also Bar/Canteen &
Sgt. @ Arms
nd
2 . Vice – Ed Rowe – also Honours & Awards/
By-Laws/Cadet Liason
rd
3 . Vice – Don Oliver – also Service Officer –
Charitable Donations
Treasurer – Carol Piper
Branch Padre(s) – Rev. Phil Miller
Capt. Pat Vardy
Mrs. Helen Smith
Burial – Elane Turner
Bursary – Sean MacNamara
Cenotaph – Bill Bennett
Sick & Visiting – Lois Crawford
Membership – Wilma Oliver
Poppy & interim Secretary – Rob
Seniors – Mary Anne Martin
Sports/Youth Ed/T&F – Marilyn Patterson
Entertainment – Joanne Bremner
These are your Executive & Officers. If there is
anything any one of them can do, please do not hesitate
to contact the office (705-945-8721).
** We are still looking for a Ways & Means Chair**
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