CANNING, NS - A town crier from Kings County will join with voices around the world in commemorating the centenary of the end of the First World War.
Gary Long, official town crier for the Village of Canning and the Town of Berwick, is among a group of town criers from around the globe who will be participating in A Cry for Peace Around the World. This is part of Battle’s Over, an international initiative originating in Britain to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War.
At 7:05 p.m. local time on Nov. 11, approximately 135 town criers located around the world will perform a specially written Cry for Peace Around the World, the first of them in New Zealand and then through the various time zones. The initiative also involves thousands of pipers, buglers, churches and cathedrals.
Long will be performing the cry at a church service in Kingsport on Nov. 11 at 7:05 p.m. and he has requested permission to perform the cry as part of the annual Remembrance Day service in Canning in the late morning.
“I just have a lot of military blood and I have great respect for the real veterans,” the former member of the air force said. “I’m a veteran too by definition but I don’t tell people that. I’m a retired military person, but I never served in any conflict, so I don’t consider myself a veteran. It has a certain connotation to it.”
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Long is proud to be able to use his skills as a town crier to pay homage to his family members and all others who served during the First World War. He believes that the centenary should really be emphasized and taking part in Battle’s Over is important to him.
His family’s history of military service began with his great grandfather on his mother’s side, Edmund Winser. He served in the Royal Navy and did battle during the Boxer Rebellion in China. He also served in the First World War.
Long’s grandfather, John Charles Long, served in the First World War. Among his many accolades, John was the recipient of the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Many of John’s brothers also served during the First World War and Long said he has several cousins who served in the Second World War. Some of Long’s great uncles and cousins made the ultimate sacrifice.
On his mother’s side, Long’s grandmother and grandfather served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War and his mother served in the RAF following the war. Long’s father and Long himself served during the Cold War years.
When it comes to Remembrance Day, Long said he thinks people really have to understand what the Royal Canadian Legion and what the poppy stand for.
“I think young people and middle-aged people today have to really stop and think and understand what Remembrance Day and what the poppy signifies,” he said. “It’s got nothing to do with war: it’s remembrance of the people who served.”
Long said he would recommend that one way to gain a deeper appreciation of the meaning of Remembrance Day is to visit the battlegrounds and associated monuments throughout Europe.
A legion perspective
Roy Lynk, past president of the Habitant Royal Canadian Legion Branch 73 in Canning, said it’s great to have Canning’s town crier participating in an international commemoration of the end of the First World War. Lynk served with forces from various nations during his NATO and UN tours overseas.
“It’s great that everybody is getting involved in remembering and it’s great for the school kids and children and all of the people who just want to learn what it’s all about,” Lynk said.
He said the legion continues its longstanding youth literacy and poster contest program to honour Canadian veterans and help foster remembrance. Lynk pointed out that not long ago, a young man from Canning, Roman Javorek, won nationally for his poem I Hold Your Hope. A legion in Alberta had the poem engraved into a stone and placed it in front of its hall.
Lynk said legion members also visit schools and speak to students, so it’s a great learning experience for them. He frames first and second place entries and proudly puts them on display upstairs in the Habitant legion hall. The Remembrance Day service in Canning continues to draw larger and larger crowds and the sense of camaraderie among those who served continues to grow.
Lynk believes the fact that it is the centenary makes this coming Remembrance Day particularly special. For example, for the Canning service, he said they are trying to find people whose parents served during the First and Second World Wars to do the ringing of the bells.
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For more information, visit Battle’s Over organizer Bruno Peek’s website at www.brunopeek.co.uk/battles-over.
