Sunday, May 30th, 2010

Come and celebrate with the Uxbridge Legion as we proudly mark our 80th Anniversary!

Events will include:

• 4:00pm – Parade to Veteran’s Park with the Legion Pipe band
• Drumhead Service at Veteran’s Park
• Return to Uxbridge Legion for buffet, speeches, and entertainment
• 5:00pm Special Presentations for women of Branch 170 who are veterans of WW2
• Presentation to Grace Leney, long-term member of the Branch 170 Ladies Auxiliary
• 6:00pm Special Presentation for members with 60 or more years in Branch 170
• World War 1 vignette
• Special tribute to the soldiers serving in Afghanistan

Uxbridge Legion Branch 170 first received its charter in 1930. Formed by ex Servicemen and interested community members only 5 years after the original Legion was incorporated in Winnipeg.

For many years meetings were held in makeshift accommodations. In 1950 a piece of land was obtained for use by the Branch from Gord Mackellar, owner of the neighbouring Coca-Cola plant, and Jack Low, local funeral director.

The Legion has since remained on the original site, and has been open continuously – except for a brief period in 1953 when the building burned to the ground. The Branch was very quickly rebuilt by Veterans and friends, and promptly resumed business.

The first President of Branch 170, Uxbridge, was Tom Silver.

+ click to enlarge

In the late 1960’s, John Gill started the Pipe Band under instructors Archie Dewar, and Angus Lang. The first Drum Major was Scotty Thompson. The first bass drummer was Jimmy Logan, who was rumoured to be over 90 before he was willing to retire. One of the original members, Don Forsythe, is still piping with the band today! From a small beginning, the band has flourished, and is one of the best public relations features of the Branch. The pipe band is always very popular at local parades, Christmas parades, weddings, and other events.

Uxbridge Branch 170 Legion is home to many innovative programs and events, such as our monthly Veteran’s Afternoon with snacks, entertainment, and draws. We are also home to a thriving darts league throughout winter, and golf league in summer.

For more information about the Uxbridge Legion, please visit our Contact Us page and get in touch.

May 8th will commemorate the 65th Anniversary of V.E. Day. On that date in 1945 the documents were signed, hostilities officially ceased, and the date was designated V.E. Day. The guns fell silent and no longer need we fear the wail of the air raid sirens, the drone of airplanes carrying death and destruction to cities, towns, and villages.

Service men and women returned to those cities, towns, and villages to resume their lives which had been interrupted by war. Too many however, would never return. They lie in some foreign land, or sea; mourned by grieving families and their comrades in arms.

“More than one million people celebrated in the streets to mark the end of the European part of the war. Many hardships remained, however, including continued rationing of food and clothing, which lasted even longer in peacetime than it had during the war. In London, crowds massed in Trafalgar Square and up The Mall to Buckingham Palace, where King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, appeared on the balcony of the Palace before cheering crowds. Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister Princess Margaret were allowed to wander anonymously among the crowds and take part in the celebrations.” [Wikipedia]

Every Legion meeting begins with a prayer for our fallen comrades.

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.”

Every Legion meeting ends with the solemn reminder:

“LEST WE FORGET”
“LEST WE FORGET”
“LET US NEVER FORGET”

Euchre is on! Come and join us!

Every Friday, 7:30 pm. (September thru May)

Every Thursday, 7:30 pm.

General Meeting: The fourth Tuesday of each month – 7:30pm

The 3rd Monday of each month, 2:00-4:00 pm.
(except July & August)