The year 1945 was significant for Marjorie Leffler.
Soldiers, including the man she would marry that year, were returning from war. It was also the year Leffler joined the Ladies Auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 49 (Parksville).
Leffler was honoured Sunday at the Legion for 70 years of service with the auxiliary.
"He (husband Cliff) joined the Legion so I thought I might as well join the Ladies Auxiliary," Leffler, 93, said just before the ceremony Sunday.
It certainly was a different time, even to the point of where people could hang out in the Legion.
"We (women) had to sit in the kitchen because the men had the main room," said Leffler, who has been a Parksville resident since that year the soldiers returned from war and she married Cliff: "I know a good place when I see it."
Leffler has seen so many changes to Parksville and the world since that day in 1945 when she joined the auxiliary. She said the Legion has changed too, becoming much more involved in the community over the years. She also said she believes the Legion has a future.
"The way Canada has been involved, there are going to be a lot of veterans coming back," she said.
She was also asked if she had a secret to her longevity.
"It helps to keep busy."
Leffler was not the only person honoured for their service on Sunday at the Legion.
The Ladies Auxiliary (LA) handed out service pins, special service medals and money to help fight cancer and muscular dystrophy.
Gladys Jackson was presented with a 65-year service pin and Elsie Edgar was honoured for 50 years of service with the LA. Special service medals for going above and beyond were presented to Doreen Pilkington and Doreen Moore.
The Parksville LA hosted a provincial convention in May of this year and raised money for good causes during that week, including $2,172.91 for the Cops for Cancer/Tour de Rock and the same amount for muscular dystrophy.
The Legion also presented long-service pins to its members on Sunday, including 60-year pins to Paul Rozak and the family of the late Victor Hay. Receiving 50-year pins were James Agar, Eric Lewicki, Leonard Peterson and Patrick Critchell.