91Ƶ

Skip to content

Legion Ladies91Ƶ Auxiliary marks 90 years

Summerland chapter, formed in 1927, was first auxiliary in Canada
web1_170406-SUM-S-Legion-Aux_4
JOHN ARENDT LONG SERVICE Longtime Ladies Auxiliary member Eileen Eden, left, and president Margaret Lynum prepare to cut the cake at the 90th anniversary celebration for the auxiliary. Eden has been an active member of the auxiliary for the past 57 years.

The first Legion Ladies Auxiliary in Canada has celebrated its 90th anniversary.

The Summerland Ladies Auxiliary received its charter on March 3, 1927.

At the time, 15 members joined the auxiliary, with the purpose of serving the Summerland branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.

91ƵOur auxiliary has alway been very active, supporting the branch whenever called on,91Ƶ said Margaret Lynum, president of the auxiliary.

Today, there are 35 active members in the auxiliary, but in previous years, it boasted many more members. In 1993, there were 95 members of the auxiliary, Lynum said.

Much of the auxiliary91Ƶs work consists in catering for functions and serving refreshments at funerals for veterans and others.

The members also attend special services such as Remembrance Day and VE Day commemorations.

The auxiliary members also place metal crosses on each veteran91Ƶs grave at the three Summerland cemeteries.

The first cross was placed in 1959 and today, there are around 400 crosses at the cemeteries.

Each year, auxiliary members place daffodils at the crosses for Easter and poppies before Remembrance Day.

The members also supply donations to community organizations such as the Giant91Ƶs Head School Breakfast Club, the Summerland Food Bank, Hospice House, Women in Need, the Special Olympics, the George Derby Veterans91Ƶ Facility, Hope Air, the Penticton Regional Hospital and others.

Two bursaries, worth $1,000 each, are presented to graduating high school students each year in June.

The auxiliary in Summerland remains active and has outlasted many other auxiliaries in the region and in the province.

In the South Okanagan and Similkameen, the Princeton auxiliary closed recently, leaving only the Summerland, Penticton, Okanagan Falls and Westbank auxiliaries.

91ƵThe Ladies91Ƶ Auxiliary has been very active since 1927,91Ƶ Lynum said. 91ƵThe ladies who belong to the auxiliary are all very dedicated.91Ƶ

This dedication shows as some of the members have spent many years in service.

Eileen Eden, the longest-serving member of the auxiliary, has been part of the organization for 57 years. Several other members have 56 years of service.

New members are also continuing to join, and over the past year, five new members were added.

Still, Lynum would like to see more people joining the auxiliary.

91ƵWe91Ƶre not getting as many as we need,91Ƶ she said.

web1_170406-SUM-S-Legion-Aux_2
SUMMERLAND MUSEUM AUXILIARY MEMBER Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Coulter-White (with her husband Reverend Gilbert James Coulter-White) was an early member of the Summerland Legion Ladies Auxiliary. This photo is circa 1930.


John Arendt

About the Author: John Arendt

I have worked as a newspaper journalist since 1989 and have been at the Summerland Review since 1994.
Read more



(or

91Ƶ

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }