Bury’s historical banner initiative
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
A relatively new initiative in Bury has been gaining attention as the town honours its military history and veterans through the installation of commemorative banners. Joel Barter, a dedicated member of the Bury Historical Society, has spearheaded the project, which involves the creation and display of banners depicting the town’s rich military heritage and honouring its veterans.
The project began with the installation of 28 banners for a military event last year, organized by the Bury Historical Society. Following the success of that event, Barter took on the responsibility of creating 14 exterior banners, detailing the history of Bury’s military from the 1866 Fenian Raids to the present day. These banners are displayed along the streets, with locations such as the Armoury being prominent sites.
“I thought it would be cool if we had veteran banners up as well,” Barter explained to The Record June 25. “I’ve seen them in places like Perth, Ontario, and St. Catharines, Ontario. So, I decided to give it a shot and see if anyone wanted to participate.”
The process of gathering information and contacting families has been a challenging one but Barter persevered by using various resources, including historical records and social media. Through extensive research and community outreach, he managed to compile a list of veterans and connect with their families.
