I refer to “Home Wanted” (page 4 of the Sooke News Mirror, December 4). As a senior who has given some 30 years’ service to this beautiful country of ours, I was somewhat disappointed to find that for the last two weeks, I was unable to enjoy my regular entertainment at the Legion, which consists of playing euchre and cribbage twice a week with my senior friends. I look forward to this each week, as we have so much fun, especially our euchre group, some of whom are hilarious and I totally love being among them relaxing and enjoying the evening.
When looking for a place for our seniors, maybe there can be some thought or brain work given to having the Legion utilized in the future as an outlet for the seniors until there is something in place for them in this beautiful community. I have been living here for the past seven years and it appears to me that there is very little going on for our veterans at the Legion. I don’t know why. On the past two Thursdays, the Legion wasn’t open, and I was told the reason was because there was no bartender available.
I would like to ask why? Surely there are some individuals in the Sooke region who would be available on a given night; or is it that the Legion isn’t organized enough to solve the problem. As a member of the Legion for most of my military career, I feel that this is a dishonour to our veterans and to our seniors, all of whom have given so much to every community in this country. Perhaps this is the reason so many branches of the Legion are closing.
What will become of communities and local organizations when most of the many long-time, hardcore volunteers are gone? Will the local organizations, who are sending a good portion of the dues south of the border, step in? They often like to point out to us how much they are giving back to the community from the funds they raise from within the community; however, I seriously question whether those who support the fundraising are aware of how much of the funds they contribute are paid in dues to the “mother” organizations internationally. If more of these donations were retained in the community, I believe the local Legion would flourish and we could get back to square one, when the Legion was regarded with great pride in the community and stood proud of what it had given over the past 100 years.
We tend to forget the past and what the veterans did, too easily.
A concerned veteran and senior,
Lee Drover
Sooke