Richard Black is witnessing his final Remembrance Day.
His last as manager of the Innisfail Legion, that is.
“I was born and raised in the legion. I spent a lot of time here when I was younger. I am part of the family here,” said Black, whose late father Stewart was president of the Innisfail Legion in the early 1960s.
And while he is not a military veteran his family has a distinguished military history. His father, who passed away three years ago, flew 33 missions in the famous Lancaster bomber during the Second World War while his uncle Richard fought and died while serving for his country in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the same global conflict.
Black, 62, has been the local legion's manager since 2002. His involvement with the legion goes all the way back to 1979. He was president in 1987 and 1988 and later a zone commander and treasurer before becoming the paid manager in 2002.
But as of Dec. 31 Black will be retired from his loyal service to the Innisfail Legion.
“I am tired. It's time. I feel I may not be contributing as well as when I first started. It is time for new blood,” said Black, adding the executive is now actively looking for a new manager to succeed him.
He said his “crowning achievement” as manager was seeing his son Stephen serve on the executive the same time as his grandfather.
Black said he will leave his post satisfied and proud of the fact that the Innisfail Legion is the third-largest Legion branch in Canada for membership. The local legion currently has 2,011 active members.
“The membership numbers have remained steady. I think we are one of the few branches in Canada that has not experienced a decline in membership,” said Black. “It has been super active since I have been here.”
When he completes his last shift on Dec. 31 Black will not completely fade away from the legion.
“I will still be around,” he said. “I will volunteer. But I will need some time to debrief myself for a while.”
