President

Meet our President

Branch 24 Royal Canadian Legion in Bridgewater has a new President. The Branch held their annual election of officers at their meeting on December 06 2024 and Comrade Dan Hennessey took over the top position for the upcoming year.

Dan Hennessey was appointed as Honorary Colonel of 14 Construction Engineering Squadron, RCAF, Bridgewater NS June 2015. The Squadron is comprised of the Headquarters in Bridgewater along with the Reserve Flight of Engineers located in Bridgewater, Pictou, Gander and Aldergrove BC. Hennessey is very active promoting the great work that the Squadron does from coast to coast and missions around the world. Hennessey has also developed a video project, Boot Camp Videos, to assist the 70 plus Honorary Colonels in the RCAF with the basics of military dress and deportment. He has also shared this information with the Royal Canadian Navy and the Army for assistance with their Honorary Colonels and Captains. Hennessey’s final term as Honorary Colonel was June 2024 after serving 9 years in the role.

A strong proponent of the Canadian Armed Forces dating from his early years as an Air Cadet, Honorary Colonel Hennessey organized a very successful Yellow Ribbon campaign in Bridgewater and spearheaded a memorial to Cpl. Paul Davis, a local casualty of the Afghanistan mission along with another for Pte Rick Green and Pte Nathan Smith (Afghanistan 2002). He also organized a memorial for Signalman Philip Crouse who paid the ultimate sacrifice during a Peacekeeping mission in the Middle East in 1966. Hennessey also worked with 12 Wing Shearwater/423 Squadron, on the memorial for the tragic loss of life in the crash of Stalker in April 2020 and in addition to a monument to honour Capt Brenden MacDonald (Stalker 22) in New Glasgow in July 2022. He is currently working on a memorial for Snow Birds, Capt Jenn Casey at the Shearwater Aviation Museum along with plaques for the loss of two members of 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, who lost their lives in a helicopter crash in June 2023. Hennessey was awarded the RCAF Command Commendation for his work as an Honorary Colonel in 2022.

As an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion in 2009, he developed the video project “Time to Remember”, a video that includes 18 poignant interviews with Bridgewater area Second World War veterans. He continues to visit schools, organizations, and youth groups and along with a screening for the Lt Governor of NS, to raise awareness of the sacrifices that our veterans have made and continue to make on our behalf. December 2024 Hennessey took over as President of Branch 24 RCL in Bridgewater.

Dan Hennessey became a published author with the release of “With the Snap of a Glove”, a book that chronicled his battle with Prostate Cancer. The book and two prostate cancer awareness videos have national and international followers and are the basis of his advocacy work on the subject through interviews on all forms of media throughout the World. His advocacy work earned him recognition in the Nova Scotia Legislature, the House of Commons and was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. Hennessey is also being nominated for the Order of Nova Scotia in 2024 for his work with veterans and cancer advocacy. Hennessey was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee medallion, pin and the Platinum Jubilee Medal by the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. Hennessey was invested as a Knight in the Order of St George on 27 April 2024.Hennessey was also awarded the King Charles Coronation Medal in February 2025.

Dan Hennessey currently is serving as President of the Board of Directors, South Shore Fieldhouse  Society. He also is sought out regularly, as a Master of Ceremonies for local, Provincial and Federal events along with deep roots in community volunteer work.

 Dan Hennessey is married to Marianne and they live in Bridgewater with their two daughters Emma and Grace.