When Silence is not Golden!!!

Dominion Command suddenly published (25th July 2016) via Face Book a rebuttal to all the recent and not so complimentary news items. In their rebuttal they listed  an email address to contact should we have any questions:-   brucepouline@legion.ca  So I did send him an email on 25th July 2016, to date no reply?? On the 29th July 2016 I sent an email to the President of PE Provincial Command also no reply. I find it hard believe these two Legion officials are too busy to make the effort to respond, surely if only to acknowledge receipt of the emails.  It has become very difficult to have any faith in the leadership at the Royal Canadian Legion

Below I have attached a letter I sent to Provincial President on 29th July and for which I still await a reply. I thought my letter was reasonable merely pointing out my dissatisfaction with his earlier letter to the editor. I also sent a reply letter to the editor but doubt it will be published because its become a rather tit for tat thing now. Please read the attached letters and you will hopefully begin to understand my frustrations.

Letter to President Provincial Command

Whether you believe me or not, it is not my intention to malign you or the Provincial Command. However, things have to change if the Legion is to survive as a Veterans Organization. The present policy on who may wear medals is archaic. How can you possibly agree that it is okay for someone off the street to enter and join the RCL, He buys a uniform and can quite legally purchase the fore mentioned legion medals and wear them right breast any time he wears the uniform. Yet a widow or mother cannot wear a late loved ones medals on Remembrance day because its against the law. Surely you must see the legion should be asking the Dept of Justice for an amendment to section 419 of the criminal code. I have tried for three years to have a resolution passed by Provincial Command and forwarded to Dominion. All I have achieved to date was to be accosted at my own branch and lectured by a member of Provincial Command. I also received a terse and sarcastic letter from an assoc member chairing what he claimed was a special committee. There are many other issues that require amending but when grass root members attempt to ask questions or point out problems it seems we are ignored. Not a good way to re-build a rapidly declining membership in my opinion. Anyway John, I just wanted to pass along my concerns, I have as much pride in being a member of the Royal Canadian Legion as the next person, but it is my legion too and I should have the right to voice my opinions and be listened to.

I have attached below my response you your letter to the editor, The guardian is unlikely to publish it, but I thought you should have the opportunity to read it anyway.

Yours Aye  F.Ben Rodgers Wellington Br 17.

PEI Command Letter to Guardian 25th July 2016

President of Provincial Command has responded to my letters regarding the wearing of medals. In his haste to show how wrong I’m, he fails to spell my name correctly, not once, but four times. He claims I have taken the selling of legion medals out of context? not sure how he arrived at that conclusion. Anyone who wishes to check the facts, can find the ads in back issues of the Legion Magazine. The 90th Legion Anniversary medal was advertised at $25 plus P & P to all legion members More recently the 150 medal was also advertised at $25. I find it equally difficult to justify his comparison. If its okay for Boy Scouts-Cadets and Knights of Columbus to wear medals why not the legion. Perhaps he needs a reminder, the legion is a veterans organization and the majority of veterans wear actual medals earned in the service of their country. Veterans do not need to buy legion medals. Finally and apart from the spelling of my name, Mr John Yeo avoids completely the crucial issue I have been urging. That of family members wearing their late loved ones medals on the right breast to Remembrance Day Services. I found it typical when he quoted legion policy. I would be remiss if I did not mention this old legion chestnut!! “The legion does not say family members cannot not wear medals, we are just informing them of the law”.LOL! The legion strongly support and promotes this law. I rest my case.

God Bless and keep reading

 

Author of LILY & ME , and THE ROYAL NAVY & ME