It has been tough lately for the Salisbury Legion.
Susan Dryden has dedicated the past seven years to serving veterans as the president of Branch 31.
In August, she will retire.
“I handed in my resignation. Unfortunately, due to a lack of membership participation, we are lacking in volunteers. Also, our Executive Board has gone from 11 to three. Unfortunately, that leaves a lot of work for three people,” Dryden says.
She says she has worked hard, and she has a great group that has worked alongside her.
“We got through COVID, and we have 110 banners through the village during Remembrance Day of veterans. We’ve done grants, we’ve done upgrades to the building, but we’ve just come to a generation where volunteering is, I guess, not as important as it was,” Dryden adds.
The Salisbury Legion’s charter is 91 years old in September, and Dryden says it dates back to World War I.
“It was a place for veterans to come back together, to see each other following the war. But it’s also a community-based facility. We do suppers and we do community-based events. We have a seniors lunch in the middle of August for our community days,” Dryden expressed.
“I remember my grandfather coming home from Ontario, being a soldier from New Brunswick, and he would travel to all the branches just to catch up with his wartime buddies. So being a granddaughter of a veteran, I felt it was my duty to join the Legion and help keep it going.”
She says it’s discouraging to think that they may have to shut down the Legion if there’s no one willing to come in and take over the roles required to keep it going.
“Community outreach to me was always very important. We have the Friday supper once a month, and we do whatever we can for the community. But stepping into the role is not just sitting in a position. It is work, and you have to have the passion for the veterans,” Dryden stressed.
The Salisbury Legion currently has 93 members, but many of them are aging, and Dryden says they need the younger generation to begin helping out.
“I’m so impressed in the last few years, how it has been more encouraged in the schools, because I’m a granddaughter of a veteran. If we don’t educate our children on what their grandparents and great grandparents and great-grandparents did, it gets lost in translation. I find our crosses and wreath donations are falling behind because the descendants of the veterans used to buy them, but now their kids are not buying them, so we’re losing,” Dryden says.
Dryden says they have their next meeting planned on August 11th at 7 pm to elect a new administrative team of executives.
First Vice President for Branch 31 Mike Lespérance posted to social media last week, stating that people are urgently needed, who are serious, dedicated and loyal to the Legion’s purpose of Service to Veterans, Military Members, RCMP members, and the community, or it will permanently close its doors around the first of September 2025.
If you have an interest or would like to volunteer, visit the Legion’s Facebook page or contact the Legion at (506) 372-4730.
