A Cannon Salute, and Farewell to Joe Garland
By Gail McCarthy, Gloucester Daily Times Staff Writer
“Joseph Garland, Gloucester’s historian, spent the last moments of his life in his beloved house by the sea.
One of the last sounds he heard on Tuesday was a cannon salute, a tradition he treasured; he would often give boats passing by a round from his own small cannon.
Garland’s family brought him home from the hospital Tuesday afternoon under hospice care. He would have turned 89 on Sept. 30. But he spent his last 90 minutes of life surrounded by family.
“When we brought him into the house from the ambulance, the (schooner) Lannon was heading out to sea with a sail excursion,” said Rob Carlson, his stepson. “We got him set up in the bed, and the Lannon was heading straight into port and we fired the cannon to get their attention. They immediately changed course and came over and gave a salute, fired their cannon and we fired back for them.
“About 10 minutes later,” he said, “Joe was gone.”
Helen Garland, his wife, said the bed was set up for him to look out at the harbor and the city.
“He was peacefully aware and was squeezing my hand right up to the end,” she said.”
To read more on Joe’s passing, please click here  and for Richard Gaines’ article.
My dad was a great admirer of Joe and although he loved Joe’s books, I remember heated discussions over city policies. After my dad passed, my mom and I stopped to talk with Joe as he worked on his sailboat across the road from his house. He will be sadly missed at the Schooner Races this weekend. It was always a treat to hear his voice announcing the schooners passing by the boulevard during the Parade of Sail.
To quote John F. Kennedy-
“We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came. ”
Rest in Peace, Joe. The sea will always be your home.
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