After suffering great losses in many wars, the Royal Canadian Legion stepped in to help those wounded, disabled and those families who lost a loved one in battle. Branch 35 of the Royal Canadian Legion, located in Stephenville, keeps pride in the tradition of helping those in need and reminding the community of the great sacrifice made on behalf of them by the Canadian Armed Forces.
The Legion evolved from the Great War Veterans Association which was designed to provide a supplement to those soldiers, injured or ill, from the first World War.
The purpose of the Legion today is to promote unity of those who have served, comradeship, which will passed along to those still in the service, and to remind the community of those who have passed and gave the largest sacrifice they could make...their lives.
Branch 35 of the Royal Canadian Legion has an impressive history in Stephenville.
In 1955, the original branch consisted of a meeting with sixty veterans, held at the Caribou Club on the Base. An application and a $5 joining fee was sent to the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League via W.R. Martin, the Provincial Secretary at the time.
The Charter included Stephenville, Stephenville Crossing, the Port au Port Peninsula, St. George's and the Surrounding areas.
Eventually St. George's and Stephenville Crossing opened their own branches. Branch 38 and 44 respectively have since turned in their charters and most members have continued to pay their dues to Branch 35.
In 1956 when Tom Ford was voted president, the Legion was organized in a back room on Main Street.
Mr. Joe Hall, a service officer at the Legion and a veteran of World War 2 smiles when he remembers far back into the past of the Legion, " We have had a lot of ups and downs since then."
Eventually the Legion moved to a new Cenotaph on Queen Street where the town leased the building to the members at a rate of just one dollar per year.
In the 70's the legionaries moved again to the former Officers Mess located on the base. It is here that the group still meet.
This current home of the Legion is so well known that people travel from all over the states and Canada to see it. In fact this is one of the best known branches nationally.
President John Gaudet reminisces about the visit he once had with the Ladies Auxiliary President of the Ottawa Branch. She had to see his kitchen and when she did she exclaimed, "We could fit our whole Legion inside of this kitchen!"
Mr. Gaudet says that he gets many tourists visiting his Legion. Most of the tourists visit on Armed Forces Day, July 19.
Most Provincial Presidents know Branch 35 for their facilities which look like they haven't been touched since the thirties.
Many older members, who used to live on the base, but now live in the U.S., still pay their dues to the Branch here.
In fact, when Mr. Gaudet lived in Churchill Falls and their was no legion available to him he also paid his dues to the branch here in Stephenville.
In the past 46 years there have been 15 presidents and one president James L. Davis served as both Branch President and from 1997 to 1999, served as Provincial President.
The Legion still carries on the tradition of selling poppies every year around Remembrance Day.
"The Poppy Fund is one of those things that we kept going," says Mr. Hall.
Each year they are sold in schools and by the Air Cadets, the Legion sponsors. The money goes to prizes for remembrance art, poetry and literature. On average the Poppy Fund raises $45,000 per year.
Since the early days though, the Legion feels that there is a lack of involvement in their organization.
" It's hard to get people interested in the Legion," Says Mr. Gaudet.
Mr. Hall continued by saying that the Legionaries service is invaluable.
"We are here for any veteran if they need help, there are Legions across the country."
The two don't understand why an organization which helps the veteran community could be so neglected.
The Legion provides such services as upkeep of the Cenotaph which is now located on Main Street and sponsored by the 708 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron.
The building itself has also had many renovations including a new dance floor and almost all new appliances for the kitchen and heating amenities.
The catering is picking up and the Legion is beginning to see some return from providing that service.
The new computer and fax machine are helping them become more technologically advanced and Mr. Gaudet says the way things are going, everything is on computer now.
The legion has come a long way from the back room it used to occupy on Main Street. Mr. Hall says that originally the legion was created to give work to war veterans who were unable to provide any other means.
"There are currently 165 members of Branch 35 and the legion seems to be where the veterans really enjoy themselves the most," says Mr. Gaudet.
"If you have good members, you can have a good legion," he says proudly, "and we have a good Legion."
Without the invaluable service provided by the legion, many veterans and casualties would have been forgotten about. The branch in Stephenville has one of the best service records in Canada and the facility which is so well loved brings about the true history of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Mr. Joe Hall, a veteran of World War 2, stands in front of the Memorial Wall in the Royal Canadian Legion located at the former Officer's Mess on the Base in Stephenville.
Joe Hall and President John Gaudet of Branch 35.
Mr. Hall remembers those lost in battle.
Pictured here is Tom Ford, the first recorded president of Stephenville Branch 35.
The Charter's cenotaph is located on Main Street and is a reminder of those who were killed in battle and those who passed on in later years.