The Royal Canadian Legion Orillia Branch 34 is inviting the community to its open house on Sunday afternoon.
The Legion will be open to those who would like to learn more about what the Legion does for the community. Rob McCron, the local branch's public relations officer, says the event is part of Legion Week, which is being celebrated nationwide.
"The is the first year nationally that we've ever had Legion Week," he explained. "Everybody is welcome to come and see what the Legion is all about."
Each week The Legion has fun activities for the public to take part in such as darts, snooker, and euchre, he explained.
"We always have something going on," McCron said. "We have barbecues, dances, and events that the organization puts on for the public."
The No. 1 priority of the Legion is to support local veterans, however, McCron concedes veterans are "fading away." Today, there are around 40 to 50 veterans who are members of the Orillia Legion, he noted.
"In a lot of smaller Legions, they are almost ready to fade by the wayside," he said. "Now, our members are younger people who had a grandfather or great-grandfather who was a veteran and they've joined the Legion on behalf of them."
Today, the Orillia Legion has one of the highest membership rates in Ontario and boasts almost 1,000 members, he said.
"We are a good Legion to come and have fun with," McCron said. "The benefits are the activities we have here."
Orillia Legion president Rick Purcell says the Legion has become a community service group. It supports Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital and multiple youth sports teams through its Wednesday bingo nights.
"We are here to support every community activity," he said. "We hope that if we support the youth, they will become members of the Legion someday."
The Legion will be serving sausage on a bun with corn on the cob during Sunday's event for $5.
McCron said people can tour the Legion's museum and learn about some important local history, including the story about the Fairmile ships that were built in Orillia during the Second World War.
Doors will be open from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
