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"Our current day veterans from Afghanistan need to get involved. When they come back, we have to welcome them into our fold and involve them in remembrance of present day soldiers. We need to make sure that when our troops come back they have a place to gather."

Flannigan was elected Dominion Vice President of the Royal Canadian Legion on the first ballot at a convention in Winnipeg, June 12-17.

He was the first person from Labrador to be elected as provincial president in 2007; now he's made history as the first dominion vice president from Labrador.

He secured one of the three vice president positions among seven people who ran. Being on the first ballot meant that he got over 50 per cent of the votes from the 3,700 legion members at the convention.

"Much to my amazement," said Flannigan, "I put (myself) in there just to get more well known, but lo-and-behold, I went in on the first ballot, which was very amazing."

"I'm very proud of it," he expressed, "I didn't expect to achieve this level, coming from a small branch in Labrador. We're making our mark."

The dominion vice-president is in charge of all the legions across Canada. Flannigan says he's up to the job.

"I've been on the provincial executive and I'm vocal, speaking my mind on what I feel is right and wrong," he said. "People told me I was to the point and didn't beat around the bush."

He noted after finishing a two-year term on the Canada-wide poppy committee, what he brought to the table was protecting the symbol from being commercialization.

He says he also fought against amalgamation of Newfoundland and other provinces such as Nova Scotia.

In his new position he'll also be the dominion sports chairman in charge of all legion sports programs across Canada.

He said he's the longest serving member of the local pool league and sports is why he first got involved with the legion in 1978.

"The legion has to be more community involved and make the younger people feel that it's not an old boys club, that if they want to help their community, they can come and join," he adds.

Flannigan says that although now in his new position he has to learn how to think for Canada, his mission is still the same: to perpetuate remembrance of fallen soldiers.