The New Westminster Legion is organizing an afternoon of fun for the whole family in honour of Legion Week 2017.
The New Westminster Legion Branch 2 is inviting community members to attend a Legion Week event that’s taking place on Saturday, June 24 starting at 1 p.m. The festivities will take place in front of the Legion at 631 Sixth St. and in a neighbouring alcove.
“It’s almost going to be a little bit of a street party,” said Michelle Lapre, bar manager. “We will have the barbecue out – there is going to be free hamburgers and hotdogs from one o’clock until supplies last. The ladies auxiliary is putting out a big bake sale table. We also have all our Legion swag that we have outside. We are going to be supporting Toonies for Troops. All the kids are welcome. We have free face painting and balloons for kids. I believe we are going to be having some boardwalk games to support Toonies for Troops – carnival style games like ring tosses and things like that.”
The local branch received a grand from B.C./Yukon Command of the Royal Canadian Legion to host the event. Legion Week is being celebrated in British Columbia from June 23 to 29.
“It’s going to be rain or shine,” Lapre said. “It’s all about getting the information of our membership out there and supporting your local Legion and everything else we support in the community.”
According to the B.C/Yukon Command’s website, Legion Week is a chance to dispel the myths and misperceptions about the Legion and to let the public know about its charitable and volunteer efforts in the community.
“We are going to have all the blue coats out here all day walking around the street handing out balloons. We have got Legion guest cards,” Lapre said. “We want everybody to check us out and find out what we are all about.”
Terry Leath, first vice president of the New Westminster Legion Branch 2, encourages residents to come out to the event and celebrate Legion Week.
“This is our first go at it,” he said. “We are hoping to get a good crowd.”
