VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Royal Canadian Legion branches all over the Lower Mainland were busy and full of people taking part in Remembrance Day ceremonies.

But on any other day, that’s not the case, and that’s because many branches are facing a dramatic drop in memberships.

“Three years ago, we got membership up to 600 but we’re down around 200 now,” says Legion President Derek Allen.

“There are very few actual veterans of the second war which has been the bulk of legion membership over the years, unfortunately they’re in their nineties and they’re passing on.  That’s a problem.” 

A few years ago the Billy Bishop Legion was very close to shutting down because of a lack of members. 

He’s hoping that doesn’t happen.  “It means we’re teetering on the edge again, we have in the past and we’re hoping that people will drop in,” says Allen.

He adds it’s an important gathering place for people in the community.  Allen explains he says it’s also meant to give support for those veterans who’ve come back from places like Afghanistan.

“That is the job of the legion.  It is to nurture that response in society,” adds Allen.

The branch is campaigning throughout the neighbourhood trying to encourage people to sign up and be apart of the tradition.  A membership costs about $60.