FERGUS – Three Fergus Legion members have taken up the task of supporting veterans by hosting a social gathering called the Buddy Check program.
It was initially discussed at a Royal Canadian Legion convention and has seen success in other clubs.
“The idea is that it’s hosted by veterans for veterans,” said Bob Fisher, veterans service officer at the Fergus Legion.
The idea is to create an atmosphere that allows veterans to socialize with fellow members and to learn about available benefits.
The program began in April but was paused until September due to a lack of interest.
“We’ve opened it up because initially the program was for the benefit of veterans but [officials] have also recognized that first responders in our community need help as well,” Fisher explained.
The gatherings are hosted by veterans Rob Fleming and Jack Griffiths.
Fleming has served in the armed forces for 37 years and is still active as he works with cadets.
He joined in 1987 at age 20 and served 20 years in the regular force, five years in primary reserve and five in the supplementary reserve “and that’s basically where they can call you up again,” Fleming said.
“I was originally infantry but it was only for three years and then the rest of my career I was fixing airplanes (aviation technician).”
Fleming worked on the Hercules aircraft used for troop transport, tactical airlift, search and rescue, and aircrew training.
Griffiths’ military journey began in 1959, when he joined the regular force, and ended in 1971.
“I was in the armoured corps [and] spent time in Egypt and Germany,” he said.
Griffiths served three years in Germany and a year “in the Gaza strip” as a peacekeeper, he said.
“I enjoyed the 12 years but it was time to get out when I got married and then I went back to school,” Griffiths added.
Both veterans shared similar reasons for being passionate about the new Buddy Check program.
“I read the email about the opportunity to join the group and I thought it would be a good thing … to help those if they needed it,” Griffiths said, noting that during his time serving, support was hard to come by.
“[There] was no other support other than a padre for the soldiers,” he said, referring to ordained officials soldiers could speak to for guidance and direction.
Griffiths recalled the time when two soldiers from his regiment drove over a mine and died.
Along with other soldiers, he had to check for other mines while his friends laid dead and “you went on the next day like hardly anything happened,” he said.
“You bit the bullet and moved on.”
Fleming’s passion stems from not only his time serving but his life experiences.
“I had friends commit suicide … lots of them struggled after they got out,” he said.
“People who had either a strong religion, philosophy or even just a strong family life; we all seemed to come through things all right.
“The guys that came in that didn’t have any of that, they were the sufferers,” Fleming said. “They were the ones that had a much harder time dealing with whatever they came up against and turned to a bottle.”
As veterans tend to endure heavy and emotional experiences, Fleming and Griffiths had to complete training in order to host the Buddy Check program.
The pair learned about awareness, signs that someone is struggling and where to refer veterans.
“An awful lot of it is people become withdrawn and they turn themselves off,” Fleming said.
He explained the program is meant to work in small groups so people don’t feel intimidated.
“A lot of people already have a preconceived notion of what a Legion is and they think it’s a bunch of old, beer-drinking, cigarette-smoking vets … well it’s not. It’s a community gathering,” Fleming said.
“The most important thing is just letting [veterans] know we are here.”
The next meeting is slated for Nov. 22 from 9:30 to 10:30am at the Fergus Legion.
