The Marmora Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion had its beginning with  the members of the Great War Veterans Association,  which was formed here about 1919.  They held  their meetings in a room over what was the  Dominion  Bank.  

The Canadian Legion was formed in 1925 at Winnipeg, with veterans organizing under the leadership of Field Marshall Earl Haig.   The Marmora G. W. V. A. did not join until September 2nd, 1932 with       18 charter members -

In 1928-29 the Memorial Building was erected on land partly owned by the G. W. V. A. and they were granted a room in it to be theirs as long as the building existed. The building also housed the Library and Post Office. Plaques were placed at the front entrance honouring 1914-18 veterans who gave their lives, and later plaques were also placed. for those of World War II.

If you're Scottish, it's likely
that the sound of bagpipes stirs
a certain feeling of pride and
warmth in your heart, unlike
any other music. Even those without clan blood enjoy the pipes (excepting, of course, the steadfast few who run for the earplugs at the first notes of their highpitched drone), whether it's a rousing Highland fling or a brooding Scottish dirge. And it's a rare parade anywhere in Canada that does not feature at least one pipe and drum band.

Here in  Marmora, our pipe
and drum band is in its fourth
year, and going strong. "The
Marmora Legion Pipe and
Drum Band  now has 15
members, much Iarger than
.the  original .group",   says one of the founding members, Bud
Deering.

"There were four of us then
and it took off from there"
said Deering, the band's bass
drummer  after the band's
practice on Wednesday night.
Deering said the Marmora
Legion had been without a pipe
band to represent them and it
was finally decided in 1987 to
get one together.

The band was formed under
the direction of Bret Cousins, the band's current Pipe Major:
who is a veteran of many pipe
bands, including the Queens'
Pipe Band and the North Bay
band.
The other members of the
group are Nancy Nelson
(drummer), Bob McKellar
(Pipe Sgt. ), Bonnie Deering
(Tenor drummer) , Brian Landry (Snare drum), Byron
Moorcroft (Drum Sgt.), John
Bradley (Tenor Drummer)
Jack Bennion (Drum Major:
band co-founder), Kim Fluke
(Piper), Erin Kane (Piper),
Sheila Day (Piper) , Peter
Deshane (Drummer) Debbie
Tims (Drummer) and Jimmy
Larson (Piper).

The band gets its funding
mainly through parades, fundraisers and community
support."We've held yard sales, bake sales, raffles, a lot of things," says Bradley.

The band's current fundraiser
is another raffle, with the first. prize, a 14-foot canoe
with paddles, supplied by Ted
Bonter's Marine in Marmora,
"and the second prize, a
complete fishing tackle and
pole outfit, supplied by the
Centre Hastings Sports Centre in Madoc.

The band is also financed
through their public appear-ances, and they ask $250 per
parade. The group has also
received a great deal of outside
funding, and they are very
grateful to the businesses,
community groups and the
Legions in Marmora and
Madoc whose donations have
kept the band afloat·
Although it might seem the band would not have many expenses, Deering explained that instrumentand uniforms are not cheap.
"It would cost at least $2000.00 to fully equip and dress a piper
in the band," he explained.
Bagpipes of any quality cannot
be bought for under $1000.
Deering estimated it costs
about $20,000 to put a fully dressed band on the street. 
"Community support has
gotten the band over the big
initial investment,"  says
Cousins, and although they still
welcome donations, funding is
not as crucial now as in the
beginning. 
"We've come a long way,"
says drummer and band
secretary Bonnie Deering.
"When we first played, we
were dressed in black pants
and skirts. Now we all have full
dress, and we're almost fully
outfitted with new equipment.
And without the organizations
who make regular donations,
we wouldn't have this."