MOOSOMIN — One of the Moosomin Royal Canadian Legion’s longest-serving members was honoured last week. Dorothy Windsor, who has been with the local legion for almost 50 years received a King Charles III Coronation Medal on March 20, acknowledging not only her decades of commitment to the Moosomin branch but the various volunteer efforts she’s been a part of in and around the community.
“We all agree that you are very worthy of this recognition,” said Brian Beckett during the presentation ceremony.
He read a letter from Carol Peterson, president of the Saskatchewan Command of the Legion, who offered her well wishes.
“It is with great pleasure that I write to inform you that you have been selected as a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal,” Peterson wrote. “This prestigious honour is awarded in recognition of your outstanding service and contributions to our community and is a tribute to the occasion of His Majesty King Charles III's coronation.
“Your dedication and commitment to the Royal Canadian Legion, to veterans and to your community exemplify the values of excellence leadership and service that this medal represents,” Peterson continued. “Through your efforts, you have made a significant and lasting impact, and this award serves as a small token of appreciation for your hard work and contributions. The King Charles III Coronation medal is a mark of distinction, and it is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service in the years leading up to the coronation. Your exemplary efforts are deeply appreciated, and this medal is a testament of the impact you have made.”
On hand to present the award was Moosomin-Montmartre MLA Kevin Weedmark, who congratulated Windsor on receiving the honour.
“There’s very few of these medals handed out, it’s a very high bar to meet,” he said. “So thank you. Congratulations for everything that you’ve done for the Legion and for the community. Thank you so much.”
As Windsor told the World-Spectator, having Weedmark present the medal was an especially meaningful moment.
“He’s a friend,” she said. “It meant more to me having him present it to me, too.”
Delightful surprise
The best part about the entire presentation was it being a surprise for Windsor, orchestrated by Legion members and friends.
“The only thing I knew is that they asked us to wear a uniform,” recalled Windsor when asked about her reaction to the surprise. “They don’t do that unless the district rep or something is going to be here. So I thought, well, our past president is our district rep, and he’s always there. So I thought, well, that’s kind of funny, but that’s the only thing I thought of. But again, when Kevin showed up, I was thinking, ‘somebody’s going to present something’, and I didn’t even think about me!”
Laurel St. Onge is a longtime friend of Windsor’s and penned the nomination letter, citing Windsor’s community service and philanthropy in particular.
“Dorothy is very worthy of this recognition,” St. Onge noted of her friend. “Dorothy has been a member of the Royal Canadian Legion No. 81 for 49 years, and is a very involved member.”
That desire to help others began early in Windsor’s life.
“We grew up on a dairy farm, and I used to babysit with the neighbours’ kids a lot, and that’s when I started doing stuff,” Windsor explained. “I followed in my mom’s footsteps because she was one who if she was doing something for somebody else, she was happy. And that’s what makes me happy!”
Windsor has been active in baseball, darts, golf, and bowling; “always being a team player,” as St. Onge noted in the nomination. The Hospital Auxiliary has been another long-time group Windsor is affiliated with, joining in 1992 and serving as president from 1999 to 2007. She was chair for their ham and turkey bingos, sold countless tickets for raffles and hat pool squares, and delivered Meals on Wheels.
When the World-Spectator caught up with Windsor, she was getting coffee ready at the villa, sharing the excitement of the coming weekend as the Legion played host to the provincial darts competition.
“The last time we had it was 2018, so just before COVID,” she said, adding the event draws not only 60 darters, but those travelling with the competitors. “I’ll be at the Legion most of the weekend, serving soup and sandwich at lunch, then they’re having a banquet Saturday night and soup and sandwiches again the next day.”
Volunteering is a great way to keep busy, as Windsor summed up, “it’s just something I like to do. I never get bored, let’s put it that way!”
