By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Ninety-five years ago, the Essex Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion (Branch 201) began its service of supporting, thanking, and recognizing Veterans at 15 members strong. Thanks to the recognition the organization has earned locally for all of the work its members do to help Veterans and assist the community, it now has over 300 members.

2026 is a milestone year for the Royal Canadian Legion and the Essex Legion. This year, the Canadian Legion celebrates its centennial anniversary, first established in 1926. The Essex Legion Branch is also celebrating its 95th anniversary.

Members of the Essex Legion celebrated both significant milestones last week, with its first-ever Veterans’ dinner on Friday, July 17 and a special service at the cenotaph on Sunday, July 19, which invited the community to come out to celebrate those milestones.

During the service at the cenotaph – which was accompanied by the Colour Guard and pipes and drums band – Essex Legion President, Erroll Caza, explained the Royal Canadian Legion originated after World War I, by Veterans for Veterans.

Initially, the principal objectives of the Legion were to provide a strong voice for World War I Veterans and advise the government on Veteran-related issues. By the end of the First World War, there were 15 Veterans groups, along with a number of regimental associations, representing former Canadian service members. In 1925. an appeal for unity made way for the formation of the Dominion Veterans Alliance, Caza explained.

“The Legion is a national emblem, highly recognized as a beacon of strength for Veterans, seniors, and youth, and almost every community in the country,” Caza explained. “The goals of the Legion have evolved with the times to ensure those who served and the thousands who have paid the ultimate sacrifice would always be remembered.”

The poppy is a world-renowned symbol of the organization and an everlasting emblem of remembrance, Caza added.

Local history notes a small number of Veterans started a group that would become the Essex Legion, supposedly using various venues in its early days. Eventually it settled into its current building, which used to be a former streetcar ticket office and the Essex Dairies.

The Essex Legion received its charter on June 9, 1931, and it was named after Captain Brien, who was a doctor serving during World War I.

Caza thanked Wendy Cunningham-Pulleyblank for her research, which pulled together a photo and some history on Captain Brien; a display was viewable back at the Branch.

While Caza noted the Captain Brien Branch began its membership with Veterans, today individuals from various walks of life – many of whom never wore the uniform – are members.

“While the Legion provides strong support for seniors and youth within the community, the primary focus is advocating for Veterans,” Caza noted, adding that many veterans of the Branch and non-members (including their families) have been supported by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) through the members and volunteers of Branch 201 and the Essex community at large.

The main source of support is through its annual poppy campaign, held annually leading up to Remembrance Day.

The support of all businesses in the area, along with the Town of Essex Mayor and Council, and in particular the citizens of Essex, has always been second to none, Caza commented.

Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy was proud to bring greetings on behalf of the Town of Essex. She noted that for 95- years, the Essex Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion has been a place of service, volunteerism, and community spirit. She thanked all members – past and present – for their dedication that has served their community well for nearly a century.

MP Chris Lewis took the opportunity to present the Essex Branch with a certificate of recognition on its 95th anniversary milestone, well commenting on the importance the Legion has on its community. On his drive to the cenotaph, Lewis said he reflected on how he used to play baseball, in part thanks to Branch 188, which sponsored that team every year.

“Without the Legion, so much wouldn’t be possible,” he said.

As part of last week’s celebration, the Essex Branch held its first-ever Veterans-only dinner on Friday evening.

At the dinner, Caza said the Ladies’ Auxiliary did a fantastic job preparing the roast beef dinner, which served 47 veterans of the region in addition to their spouse or a caregiver.

He noted that recently, they learned the Essex Legion could host Veteran dinners twice a year, and this was the first opportunity they had to do just that. The idea was to expand on its already existing mission of thanking, recognizing, and supporting veterans.

A special outcome of that first-ever Veterans’ dinner was realizing the Veterans in attendance had 473.5 total years serving their country between them.

“That is what the Legion is all about,” Caza said.

The dinner was also an opportunity for Veterans to get together and network, and provided an avenue to discuss experiences of the past. Discussions were also enabled to help them understand the supports available to them by VAC and the Legion. Caza noted a couple of Veterans who attended realized that there is support they didn’t know about, and will look to apply.