Bay Roberts, Newfoundland & Labrador
Harold Brown has played a critical role with The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 32 in Bay Roberts for many years. He has been on the executive for eight years, holding the offices of secretary, membership chair, honours and awards chair and branch historian. Within these roles, he has been the lead organizer and emcee for Canada Day and Remembrance Day ceremonies for the past eight years. He has also emceed Remembrance Dinners for Veterans each November and organizes and attends school assemblies to speak to students on the importance of remembrance.
With the help of local students, he is also revamping the Legion’s Wall of Honour. They’re updating photos and completing biographies for each Veteran, using Veterans’ families and other sources. The biographies and photographs will be made into a book for the branch and published on the Legion’s website.
Mr. Brown also created a database of graves of local Veterans to be included on the Legion’s website, which includes photographs of the graves he gathered while visiting the cemeteries. He also ensures each gravesite is marked with a Canadian flag.
He has been very committed to staying connected with Veterans and their families during the pandemic. He visits them at homes and in facilities and is sure to call, send cards and make sure Veterans feel connected when visiting isn’t possible.
For his branch, he started a daily playing of the Last Post at 11:00 as an active reminder of sacrifice of Canada’s Veterans.
Harold is currently a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Provincial Executive as district 2 commander and is a member of the provincial Poppy and Remembrance Committee.