WWII veterans, John Kuharchuk and Armand Denicola, enjoyed Saturday's official opening of Branch #43

Prince George, BC – "It's just like coming home, again," said Armand Denicola as he sat down to enjoy a meal at Saturday's re-opening of the Royal Canadian Legion's Branch #43, in its new location on 6th Avenue.

Denicola and his good friend, John Kuharchuk, were central figures at the ceremony – the new Juno Beach Lounge has been named in their honour.

Athough the pair did not meet until after the war, both men served in the Canadian Scottish Regiment and landed on Juno Beach…

"I was there the first day," says Denicola.

"But, you know, they say D-Day was the 'thing', but the whole northwest Europe was important.  Normandy and Juno Beach, of course, was important – that was our jumping off space – but you've got to think of the whole picture."

Denicola says, after the war, the Legion became an important gathering spot, a 'home away from home'.

"This is where I used to spend my Saturdays," he says, with a chuckle, "Hey, John? Us, loggers, we'd head for the Legion."

John Kuharchuk landed on Juno Beach one month after Denicola.  When he returned home to Fort St. James, he became a charter member of the community's Royal Canadian Legion, before moving to Prince George to join Branch #43 thirty years ago.

"This means quite a lot," he said, when asked about the importance of the branch re-opening.  "This is our place of worship – to remember the people that have passed on and where we keep this thing alive for future generations."

Future generations like six-year-old Claire Westerlaken and her three-year-old brother, Jack, who attended Saturday's ceremony with their dad, Ray.

Ray Westerlaken and his business partner, Vern Norbraten, were praised profusely for playing key roles in helping the branch 'survive' the move.  The pair purchased the old Legion building on 7th avenue, allowed Branch #43 to remain there rent-free for 12-months, helped them to secure the new building, and actually became Legion members as they assisted with renovations to the 6th Avenue location.