BARRINGTON/CLARK'S HARBOUR, NS – Hearts are swelling with pride these days in the Municipality of Barrington and the Town of Clark’s Harbour as banners honouring local veterans adorn power poles in the community.
A project initiated by Royal Canadian Legion Branch #148, Clark’s Harbour, a total of 53 banners have been made for families in memory of and to honour veterans. Twenty-two banners hang in Barrington Passage, 26 in Clark's Harbour, four in Woods Harbour, with one at a residence in Dartmouth. The banners were hung on Nov. 1 by municipal and town staff, assisted by volunteers.
“My own thought today was that, if the veterans could all be here to see the banners on the poles, they would all have tears in their eyes,” said legion member Lynne Atkinson, who helped spearhead the project.
“When news of the banner project spread throughout the community a few months ago, I received many positive comments,” said Atkinson. “Most people thought that the project would be a very popular one and that there would be many orders for banners. Several people commented that it is a project that should have been undertaken years ago and is an excellent way to give the veterans the honour that they deserve.
“People have also really been talking about the various veterans from this area and some of their wartime experiences. I really enjoyed talking with the families who ordered banners. They were very proud of their veteran,” Atkinson added. “Many told me of wartime experiences that had been related to them by the veterans. As part of my own observation, through discussions with family members who have ordered banners, the families have wanted to find a way to honour their veterans and seemed to really appreciate this banner project as a way of achieving this.”
Since being installed the banners have generated a “great deal of positive talk” on social media, said Atkinson.
“One comment that I noticed on Facebook was, ‘What an awesome way to salute and remember the true heroes of this country.’”
Atkinson said she also received an email from someone who said the banners “gave her goosebumps as she drove through the Passage,” and that they were “a wonderful tribute to our hometown heroes.”
Atkinson said the legion plans to take orders for more banners next year, adding there have already been several requests for order forms to purchase banners next year.
“New orders won't be taken until then,” she said.
Atkinson said there were a number of banners ordered for veterans of the First World War, but most were for veterans of the Second World War. Banner orders also included some for veterans who served in the U.S. Navy and one banner for a First World War veteran who served for England. Most banners ordered were to honour deceased veterans.
The Clark's Harbour Elementary School ordered a banner that “honours all veterans."
The banners will remain on display until after Remembrance Day.
