Page 27 - August 2018

“It’s been rough… and I don’t want to throw away
Red Deer Legion finds new homes for
military mementos… Downsizing means making
hard decisions, says president
New homes have been found around Central Alberta
for the Red Deer Legion’s heavy-duty military
memorabilia — including howitzer gun, anchor, tank
gun barrel and airplane propeller.
Smaller mementos, including uniforms and medals,
have been taken in by the Red Deer Armouries.
But Legion president Bev Hanes is still concerned
about what to do with some legion history preserved
in paper. “Just like with any downsizing, you can’t
keep everything,” she said.
Since the Red Deer Legion sold its Bremner Avenue
building, it will be leasing only a third of its former
space. This leaves little room for displays of historic
war artifacts or document storage.
Hanes hoped to pass on some paperwork to the Red
Deer museum or archives, but discovered “everybody
is pushed for space.” This means she will have to
make some hard decisions in days to come.
anything that someone might think is relevant later
on,” said Hanes.
The Red Deer Legion’s office staff have been holding
garages sale of furnishings and also arranging for the
departure of some heavy cargo. (The final garage sale
of kitchen wares and other mostly non-military items
will be held Friday evening and on the weekend).
Since the building’s new owners did not want the
artillery that was displayed on the Red Deer Legion’s
front lawn, it had to be moved to new locations —
often with cranes.
Hanes said the airplane propeller was picked up by
the Harvard Historical Aviation Society in Penhold.
The Howitzer gun went to the Red Deer Armouries,
and the ship’s anchor — a 1,600-pounder, made in
Quebec City in 1943 for the escort ship, HMC Joliette,
will now sit in front of the Innisfail Legion.
There’s still the long tank gun barrel to move. Hanes
said it’s supposed to be picked up this month by
members of the Elnora Legion.
She has mixed feelings about all the divestment.
Some of these war artifacts have been part of the Red
Deer Legion since before it moved to that location in
1981. But Hanes noted the members who felt most
connected to them have now mostly passed away.
Families have donated many items, which the legion
never had the space to exhibit. Some were stored in a
garage, so she hopes the new owners will be able to
display them.
Like many seniors who have had to downsize, Hanes
has discovered, “It’s quite an operation.”