There is a bell in the president’s office of Oromocto Branch of the Legion that has piqued the curiosity of First Vice Garry Guitar. Somehow it survived the devastation of a June 2010 fire that saw the building and almost all its cherished memorabilia destroyed.

“The bell came from Saint John but I think it was originally a ship’s bell but we don’t know which one,” said Guitar who also served as chairman of the building committee.

The bell survived the fire and so did the branch about 25 kilometres southeast of Fredericton. In 2012, the branch reopened on the same foundation as the old building, ready once again to provide a meeting place for its nearly 600 members.

“We are mortgage-free and didn’t have to borrow a cent,” said President Patrick Parker. “We had to raise a lot of money.”

Fire trucks from Oromocto, Fredericton and New Maryland responded to the fire which destroyed the original branch. The RCMP investigated and later apprehended a teenager who suffered burns on his arms and legs as a result of the fire.

“He apologized in court and agreed to take a substance abuse course,” said Guitar. The arson charge was dropped and the youth pleaded guilty to mischief and was given a one-year conditional discharge.

“I heard about the fire when my daughter called to tell me,” said Parker. “I hurried down to the branch. People were all around watching the fire being put out. There were veterans with tears in their eyes. There was a lot of disbelief.”

Built in the 1950s, the structure was completely destroyed except for the foundation. Lost were all the memorabilia and the pipe band’s pipes, drums and uniforms. The branch had many hand-carved poems and coats of arms, made by branch member Stan Whynot, which could never be replaced.

“The community really came together and helped us,” said Parker. The branch had some insurance but held a number of fundraisers, some as far away as Ontario. It also received a $25,000 grant from the municipality and a $50,000 grant from the provincial government. “And of course the ladies auxiliary is our bread and butter.”

The local high school raised $3,000. “A little girl, about seven years old, held a yard sale and raised $800 for us,” said Parker.

The branch also had a lot of support from the former Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, now known as 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown. Oromocto is home to many people working at or retired from the base.

“We had a professor from the University of New Brunswick examine the foundation and he determined that the foundation was sound,” said Guitar. A decision was made to rebuild the branch on the same foundation but as a one-storey building.

Plans were drawn up by engineers at the base. The new building was up to date in meeting standards for electricity, plumbing and access for the disabled. A large reception hall was included in the space which can be divided into smaller sections. “The base holds a lot of functions here,” said Guitar.

The base even provided the branch with a temporary home in one its permanent married quarters.

Erecting the new building took a year. “We started in February [2011] and finished in February [2012],” said Guitar.

The new building was officially opened by Lieutenant-Governor Graydon Nicholas in June 2012 and was host for New Brunswick Command’s 81st convention in September 2013.