True heroes given appreciation
Rankin Legion looks to rebound from inner turmoil
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, November 19, 2014
RANKIN INLET
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 169 Rankin Inlet president Gabe Karlik was pleased to see a large crowd at the community's Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 11.
Rob Hedley places a wreath at the cenotaph on behalf of the Government of Nunavut during Remembrance Day ceremonies in Rankin Inlet. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo |
But he was also looking forward to the day when the local Legion branch will become everything he envisions it to be.
Karlik said right after the ceremony, a few people came up to shake his hand. He said a couple of them told him they have family members who are veterans.
"It's always an honour to hear their stories," said Karlik. "A few of them asked if, in the future, they could place a wreath on behalf of their family members. I said all they have to do is tell me the names and we'll definitely have a spot for them, because that's the point of the whole service."
Karlik said the local Legion branch has dropped the ball on having more youth involvement in the ceremony, which used to be one of the focal points of the service.
He said there's been a lot of turmoil with the executive staff in recent times, which he hopes is rectified soon.
"Right now there's only two executive members running the Legion (he and Jason Todd).
"And with my schedule, travelling and stuff, the Legion just hasn't become what I wanted to see it as when I became president. We want to have good communication with the community, and we want to help with the cadets, Girl Guides and other youth groups.
"Our branch just hasn't become what I feel it's supposed to be."
Karlik said once the inner turmoil settles down, hopefully, the Legion will find out who's helping with what groups in Rankin.
He said a lot of teachers in Rankin didn't even realize he was branch president.
"We haven't even run the annual Remembrance Day poster contest in the schools for the past five years, or so, but we can turn things around. We had a large turnout this year, which a good part of was probably due to the attack on Parliament Hill. People keep hearing about war in other countries over and over again, but, with this happening so close to home, people are really starting to feel it.
