CONSTANCE BAY – It’s an annual tradition that never gets old as veterans of the Korean war as well as residents of the Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre came to Branch 616 to celebrate the holidays.

The annual celebration held Saturday Nov. 30 at Branch 616 includes a lunch for the veterans, live music, entertainment and a really big cheque for the veterans’ hospital.

Around 50 veterans made up of residents from the Perley hospital as well as the Korean Veterans Association arrived by bus. It is one of two events Branch 616 hosts for the Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre residents each year.

“Thank you everyone for coming, I hope you have a great time,” West Carleton Royal Canadian Legion President George Dolan said.

The huge news of the day was the $9,760 Branch 616 donated to the Perley hospital, raised through their annual Poppy Campaign.

“We had a very successful Poppy Campaign,” Branch 616 Vice President Bogdan Procyk said. “We exceeded our goal by $2.”

West Carleton Online spoke with World War Two and Korean War veteran, 99-year-old Master Warrant Officer Joe Quinn, retired Colonel Claude Charland and Perley resident Private Douglas Barber who pointed out “they wouldn’t recognize my talents so I went to university on my own,” he said of his military career.

In the mid 1900s a post-secondary education was provided by the military following a veteran’s service.

All three veterans said they have attended the Branch 616 event a few times and always enjoy it.

“Oh yes, it’s a great time,” Barber said. “And the glass of wine is an extra benefit.”

Live music was performed by local band Nt Nrml and accompanied by volunteers from the branch and MP Karen McCrimmon.