Brandon legion marks 100 years of service

The Royal Canadian Legion’s centennial celebration brought generations of veterans, volunteers and community members together in Brandon this weekend.

The Branch No. 3 marked 100 years of the national organization and reflected on a century of service.

The celebration featured a community barbecue, bingo, meat draws and a gathering of current and former branch leaders who shared stories spanning decades of military service, volunteerism and support for veterans’ families.

Branch president Fred Pritchard said the milestone carries special meaning, even though he never served in the military himself.

“This is my way of contributing, of honouring those that did,” Pritchard told the Sun. “It’s an honour to be part of the legion and to represent Brandon the way we do.”

Pritchard said that Friday marked 100 years of the Royal Canadian Legion nationally, while Brandon’s own branch will celebrate its charter centennial on Dec. 27.

“We signed our charter Dec. 27, 1926,” he said. “We’re celebrating 100 years for the legion, but in December we will celebrate our own 100 years.”

The branch has organized several events throughout the centennial year, including a curling bonspiel in January, a golf tournament in June, this weekend’s barbecue and a formal veterans gala planned for September, he said.

For many longtime members, the anniversary is deeply personal.

Murray Talent, 84, has been a legion member for 53 years and served as past president and first vice-president of Branch No. 3. He said the organization has been woven into his family history for generations.

“There’s been a military background on both sides of the family for years, and it gets into your blood, and you carry on,” Talent told the Sun.

He recalled a time when military service and volunteering were common parts of community life.

“The spirit of the volunteers was something else. You didn’t have to ask; people just stepped up,” he said. “You didn’t let anybody down. If somebody needed help, you helped.”

Talent said the legion’s role is beyond remembrance ceremonies, pointing to scholarships, hospital equipment funding and assistance for veterans facing financial or family crises.

“All that money that comes in through the poppy campaign goes to different things — hospital equipment and support for military people and their families when they need assistance,” he said.

Past president Charles Carlson, who will turn 90 this week, has been a member since 1987 and served multiple terms as president.

“The legion is something I live for. It’s a great place, and we do a lot here for the community,” Carlson said.

He said the branch has changed significantly since it was converted from a former curling rink in the 1960s.

“The building itself has greatly improved over the years,” he said, crediting recent leadership for many of the upgrades.

Carlson also echoed concerns about the decline in volunteer participation among younger generations.

“The grassroots of this organization is volunteers,” he said. “It’s very difficult to get people to volunteer, but those who do are appreciated.”

Former president Marie Carlson, the branch’s second female president, served three years in the role and returned for an additional term in 2005. She said the legion’s core mission has remained constant.

“As long as you’re helping veterans, that’s the most important thing,” she said. “We’re here for comradeship, and if a veteran needs help, that’s what we’re here for.”

She said recruiting new members remains an ongoing challenge, but she is optimistic about the organization’s future.

“You want your membership to go up because that will keep the legion alive,” she said.

One of the branch’s enduring contributions to Brandon is its connection to local military history. Talent credited Charles Carlson with helping establish Veterans Way, the historic route used by soldiers marching from Brandon barracks to CFB Shilo during the First World War era. The branch is also affiliated with several memorials in the city, including monuments near city hall and the armouries.

Pritchard said hearing the stories of longtime members has been one of the most rewarding parts of his presidency.

“It’s inspiring to see that the passion is there,” he said. “It’s heartwarming to have that community where people can tell their stories. We can only hope to see another 100 years,” Pritchard said. “Not me, but future generations.”

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