MOOSE JAW — It was a bittersweet day for Moose Jaw’s legion, as it held its final beer sale, meat draw, 50/50 raffle, Chase the Ace fundraiser and flag-lowering ceremony at its old location.
Roughly 50 people packed Branch No. 59’s lounge on April 19 for “the final show” at the Royal Canadian Legion’s 268 High Street West building. The organization’s lease at its 98-year-old headquarters expires May 1, so it is moving to 693 Fairford Street West.
Many walls inside the lounge were bare, with outlines of where pictures, dart boards, neon signs and stained-glass windows once were, while boxes were stacked in corners and against walls.
The afternoon’s highlight was the final flag-lowering ceremony — — that saw most everyone in the lounge go outside to watch veterans Jim MacNeil and Alex Cameron bring down the Canadian flag — ANAVETS members across the street also came out to watch — while the sound of a bugle performing “Sunset (Retreat)” blared from a speaker.
The tune is traditionally played at the end of the day to withdraw troops from their tasks and move back to their barracks/camp for the night. It can also be played ceremonially when lowering a flag or as a substitute for the Last Post.
Cameron presented the folded flag to legion president Christine Simpson, and after the ceremony concluded, the group marched back to the lounge to finish socializing.
“It was an awesome, awesome experience, a once-in-a-lifetime (event) and I wouldn’t have missed it,” said MacNeil, who has been a member for more than 50 years.
Asked about his favourite memory, he admitted that he had had so many positive experiences there and he couldn’t pick just one outstanding moment. However, helping lower the flag and supporting the annual Poppy Campaign were two activities he enjoyed.
MacNeil noted that he was emotional while lowering the flag and that he shed “a little tear” since he had been at the branch “a long, long time.”
“A little nostalgia, but it’s good to get into a new place, I suppose, (for) a change,” he added. “It had to be done, so here we are.”
It was “a sad day and a happy day” for members, since many had been there for more than four or five decades — in military and civilian roles — and were all united in caring care for veterans, said Simpson.
“… this place has been here for (nearly a century) and it’s sad to see us leave here,” she continued,” but we’re looking forward to the new legion because it’s time for a move and bring new memories, new stories, new everything to the new place.”
Her voice wavering, the legion president said she was emotional watching the flag descend the flagpole, even though she had been a branch member for only 11 years. Still, she noted that many good things had happened there over the century, while it was easy to understand how special the venue was by listening to stories from veterans and civilian members.
“I have goosebumps. It’s our flag … ,” she continued, noting that it means much to residents and visitors who come for bingo, meat draws or dances and stay to meet people and make friends.
Moreover, Simpson said it was beneficial to have the ANAVETS club across the street since the two organizations could work together on projects. With a laugh, she said they would now be three blocks apart and would have to schedule drinking get-togethers.
It will take three days for movers to clean out the branch’s lounge, and once flooring is installed in the new building, then all furniture and effects will be moved in and set up, Simpson added. Barring glitches, Moose Jaw’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 59 should be open on Monday, May 5 for morning coffee.
