SHANNON.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 136, 9 May 1940, Page 12

SHANNON.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) SHANNON, May 8. A meeting of the Shannon branch of the R.S.A. was held on May 6, the president (Air Fi. Thurston) presiding. Satisfaction was expressed at the success of the Anzac Day ceremonies and the secretary was asked to forward letters of thanks to all concernod and also to those who so ably assisted in the sale of poppies; The collection at the door realised £3 16s 4d and after expenses were deducted the sum of £1 Is 4d was donated ,to the Patriotic fund. It was resolved, on account of many calls on the branch’s funds of late, that a street stall be held. The president reported that both himself and the secretary had visited a sick meinbor-und were glad to be able to report good progress. All joined in expressing the hope that this member would soon be restored to health. ’Several letters of thanks were read from lads who have already left on active service, and the feeling of the meeting was that it was nice to know the small tokens the branch was privileged to present to these boys, were appreciated. One 'letter particularly, an account of the patriotic. spirit that the lad conveys, is given in part below:—“You may wonder why I was so eager to join up; it is because I think that .if', in the years gone by, men such as yourselves, considered our small country worthwhile, giving the best years of your lives, and irt some cases dying for, so thdt chaps such as myself could live in place and security these last 20 years, then'it is our job to see if we cannot make it safe for you chaps and your families to live in for the remaining years of your lives.” Like you wo value our freedom, and I am proud to do what little I can to bring about the downfall of the nation which considered so lightly, the death of millions of young men 26 years ago.”