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“The legion will not be around in 10 years – mark my words,” he added.

But those at the legion branch in the town of Hampton, NB where Keating purchased the wreath say only one side of the story is being told. “The Hampton legion is not in the wrong,” Jean Dixon, the branch treasurer, said in an interview Wednesday. “He (Keating) was asked if he was laying it at the cenotaph and he said no.”

Dixon didn’t provide further details but said the issue has been referred to the New Brunswick legion command. Those officials are not talking to her, she said. “They only got the one side of the story,” added Dixon.

Hampton is 35 kilometres northeast of Saint John.

But Keating, who lives in Saint John, posted a video update on Wednesday, noting that the legion’s dominion president David Flannigan got involved in the issue and he has received an apology from the New Brunswick legion command officials.

Officials with the Hampton branch did not join in that apology.

Keating said he has been told the legion is now considering shutting down the Hampton branch if it can’t find suitable leaders there.

Officials with the legion’s New Brunswick command did not respond to a request for comment about the situation.

But the ongoing dispute has fuelled criticism that the Royal Canadian Legion is out of touch with modern veterans and it is now composed mainly of civilians. Military veterans make up an estimated 30 per cent of the legion’s 330,000 members.

The organization has struggled to attract new veterans, with some former soldiers complaining the legion has become a social club for civilians.