A dog is known as a man’s best friend and the Diamond Head branch of the Royal Canadian Legion wants to help provide Canadian veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) the chance to build that kind of friendship.
The Squamish Legion is celebrating Legion Week with seven days full of activity, highlighted by a silent auction on June 28 from 3 to 6 p.m. to help raise money for service dogs for veterans.
“The money we’re raising on this auction is going to purchase and train service dogs for our military people, including those that came back from Afghanistan,” said Wayne Pilgrim of the Squamish Legion. “We’re trying to do our part and these dogs will go wherever people need them.”
Pilgrim said studies have shown that dogs can help veterans deal with the aftermath of stress from the battlefield.
“The dog can sense when they’re upset and can help them deal with that,” he said. “Some of these vets are really going through a lot.”
He said the silent auction will feature dozens of items for people to bid on and the local business community has been generous with their donations.
“It’s been going really well,” he said. “Nobody has turned us down and the support from the local business community has been just great.”
It’s been a busy 2014 for the Squamish Legion, with Luisa Marshall’s Tina Turner tribute show and Nearly Neil both having come to town. Pilgrim said the Legion is always looking for new members and hosts darts on Tuesdays, poker and bridge on Wednesdays and cribbage on Thursdays. The group’s meat draw occurs on Saturdays.
The Legion is also again hosting the popular bingo event at the Loggers Sports Festival.
Those wanting to donate items or to get involved with the silent auction can call (604) 390-3999 or email [email protected].
