PHOTOS: Flag lowered as Chilliwack Branch 4 Legion closes forever

As people waited for the sombre legion-closing ceremony to begin outside the Chilliwack Branch 4 on Friday, a weathered Canadian flag on a pole high above the building sat limp.

But within seconds of the ceremony starting, the flag began to wave. And it didn’t stop waving until it was lowered and removed from its post on the morning of Sept. 10.

Veterans, fellow legion members and the community gathered that day to say goodbye to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 4 as its doors were closed forever after 95 years in Chilliwack.

But before the doors were shut for the last time, there was one last ceremony, one last luncheon, one last pint of beer at the bar.

“It will be a happy ceremony but in ways it will also be a sad ceremony,” said legion member Doug Harrison at the start of the event. “We are here to lower the flag at Branch 4 of the Royal Canadian Legion for the last time.”

Branch 4 opened in 1926 and served the community of Chilliwack for 95 years. Sept. 10 marked the legion’s final day of operation. The Chilliwack branch is amalgamating with Vedder Golden Branch 280 and together they will become Chilliwack-Vedder Branch 295.

READ MORE: Chilliwack’s Royal Canadian Legion branches amalgamate to become ‘one strong legion’

“This is a very sad day for Branch 4, but by amalgamating with Branch 280, we will be a stronger presence to the City of Chilliwack,” said Branch 4 president Sharon Churchill.

The two branches have been talking about amalgamating for the past five years as membership dwindled and costs to keep two branches open in Chilliwack became more challenging, especially during COVID.

Branch 4 was a place Warner Hockin called home for 65 years. The 96-year-old veteran (who turns 97 on Sept. 17) said he was sad to see it closing.

What’s he going to miss most?

“The comradeship. Lots of times when you have nowhere to go, just drop in for a few minutes. There’s always somebody there to greet you,” Hockin said. “It’s been here a long time, one of the longest businesses in Chilliwack.”

The flag that was lowered that morning will be handed over to the Chilliwack Museum. A second flag was gifted to Hockin just moments after the one atop the legion was removed.