Burned Sussex legion reopens - better than ever
Published Monday November 3rd, 2008
Bouncing back Spirit of Branch 20 saluted as ribbon cut at revitalized building
SUSSEX - One by one, dozens of members from legions across the province stood in support of the giant achievement of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 20 in Sussex Sunday afternoon.
Eleven months after fire ravaged the Magnolia Avenue legion, it was reopened with all the pomp and pageantry the revitalization of such a significant building deserves. Politicians were on hand and so were about 150 observers, including legion members from the Sussex, Norton, Saint John, Fredericton, Havelock, Chatham, St. Andrews, Hampton and Nackawic branches.
The general consensus was relief among them that another legion didn't die, even when faced with disaster.
In his first official duty as the newly reappointed Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson said as many legions across the country struggle to grow membership and maintain facilities, Sussex has proven its commitment to offering a gathering place for its veterans and community.
"Our legions do so much work, not just for the veterans but young people, and some of that work is done very quietly," the MP for New Brunswick Southwest said after the ribbon was cut to officially open the new and improved Sussex legion.
"A fire is about as bad as it gets but this legion has a healthy membership and there's a commitment to grow," he added.
"The truth is many legions would have simply walked away and given up facing a challenge like rebuilding. It would be overwhelming but it's obvious today the community spirit we often take for granted is alive and well, both within the legion membership here and outside.
"This reopening speaks well for the small community of Sussex."
Branch president Ervin Ellis didn't miss the opportunity of the official opening to push memberships.
"This is a great day for our legion and a great day for Sussex," he said. "(But) we need new members if we are going to keep this legion going."
He said potential members need only to have a passion to serve their community, not a military connection. Currently the Sussex branch has about 575 members.
While most memorabilia was saved by firefighters last Dec. 17 when fire broke out, some was lost to smoke or water damage.
"Talk about accidents and freak accidents," Thompson said, "but you never gave up "¦l ike our veterans never gave up."
He committed pieces of memorabilia he has collected as minister.
"They will be entrusted to you in this new building," Thompson promised.
Fundy Royal MP Rob Moore thanked members for the work they do for veterans of the community.
It was legion member Harley Geldart who went to Saint John East MLA Roly MacIntyre early this year for $200,000 for the rebuild. The former minister of the Regional Development Corporation said because of the significance of the legion, that money was secured in about one and a half weeks.
"Sometimes when you renew, things get better and I think that's what's going to happen here," MacIntyre said.
"I always had a soft spot for legions," continued MacIntyre, a former legion member himself. "We support our legions."
Kings East MLA Bruce Northrup stood in the freezing cold on the morning a series of bizarre events resulted in the legion's going up in flames.
On that morning a delivery truck was rounding the corner of the building when it hit low-lying electrical wires. A wire snapped, landing on propane tanks that served the legion's kitchen and exploded. Fire tore through the legion's roof. The couple of people inside at the time got out without injury.
"There's always good that comes with the bad," Northrup said. "It was a devastating day in December but as I look around here today, everything has worked out well. The executive had to make some pretty tough decisions "¦ and they were the right decisions."
On the day the legion burned not only did the organization suffer but the community as a whole, said Coun. Stephen Campbell representing the town of Sussex.
From the time of the fire until the legion was rebuilt, the legion operated out of vacant space at the Sussex Mall.
Campbell said it is significant the legion is open in time for Remembrance Day and the busy Christmas party season that is crucial to the legion's revenue stream.
Also delivering her greetings and best wishes, Mavis Cooper, the woman in charge of the New Brunswick Command of the Royal Canadian Legion, said her heart sank when she heard the news come over the car radio of the legion's fire.
"This is beautiful. This building shows what comrades can do when they work together," she said, calling Sussex an example for other legions to follow.
The legion was rebuilt by local contractor Bruce Carhart of B & W Contracting.
The new roof has been designed to match the nearby library, replacing the previous shallow-pitched steel one that was destroyed. The building was created with energy efficiency in mind to lessen the challenge legions face with paying the bills.
Along with a more spacious hall and improved meeting rooms and offices, the new legion has also replaced its previous dial-up Internet service to high speed and will establish an Internet café.
And for the members' piece of mind, all external power and phone lines are running to the building from underground to ensure there is not a repeat of the Dec. 17 events.
The structure also features three firebreaks to reduce the chance of fire spreading to the entire length of the structure again.
Along with the insurance funds, the legion was rebuilt and its contents replaced through a provincial government grant of $200,000, fundraisers and donations.
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