LITTLE CURRENT—Lifetime Awards for service to a branch of the Royal Canadian Legion are not bestowed often but at last Friday evening’s annual honours and awards ceremony at Branch 177, Little Current, the evening ended with a surprise presentation to past president Ruth Eadie.
Comrade Christy Deschamps, who chairs the Honours and Awards Committee, called Comrade Ruth Eadie to the podium at the close of the regular presentations. Comrade Christy chose to speak from her own heart about why Comrade Ruth was so deserving of this Lifetime Award honour. She said, with emotion, that “I am a member of Branch 177 because of Comrade Ruth Eadie.”
Initially, Comrade Ruth had asked her to volunteer with the fundraising wing nights, she explained, “and I learned, under her direction, that there is a dedicated group of Comrades and volunteers who are working to raise funds for the Legion. Everyone was very friendly and I realized quickly that this was a group I would like to be a part of.”
Comrade Christy went on to say that she is “thrilled that Comrade Ruth has been chosen by her Comrades of Branch 177 and by Command to receive the Lifetime Award.”
She held the branch presidents post for two terms. She has fulfilled the role of chair of the Honours and Awards Committee and also has the past-president’s duties, among many other tasks she has taken on for the branch, Comrade Christy explained.
“But,” Comrade Christy stressed, “she had the daunting task of being branch president during COVID-19 and she kept the Legion alive and financially sound and she accomplished this by being creative.”
The popular ‘wing nights’ at the Legion were part of this “where a core group of people came out every two weeks to cook and sell takeout orders of chicken wings. It was a hit and did well in providing much-needed revenue for the Legion (which was otherwise closed during COVID-19 lockdown time).”
“Comrade Ruth was at every wing night,” Comrade Christy continued.” This shows her commitment to the Legion and her goal to do everything in her power for the Legion to succeed and not have to close its doors.
On a personal note, Comrade Christy observed that Comrade Ruth is “honestly one of the hardest workers I know. She puts the needs of others and the Legion ahead of her own. She gets what needs to be done, done. She will find a way to make it happen”.
“She is truly the most dedicated and devoted person that I know,” Comrade Christy concluded.
For her part, Comrade Ruth was speechless, saying only that she was totally surprised by such an honour as the crowd at the event rose for a standing ovation in recognition of all the Lifetime Award represents about the diligence of Comrade Ruth to the branch.
