Bells of Peace a World War I remembrance

The World War Centennial Commission—along with the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, the Society of the Honor Guard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the National Cathedral, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars—has announced a nationwide bell-tolling on Nov. 11 as a solemn reminder of the sacrifice and service of veterans of the Great Wars, and all veterans.

“Bells of Peace: A World War One Remembrance” encourages citizens and organizations across the nation to toll bells in their communities 21 times at 11 a.m. local time on Nov. 11. An updated version of the “Bells of Peace” APP has been released by the Doughboy Foundation in cooperation with the Society of Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (SHGTUS).

The updated Bells of Peace APP, which is now available on both the Apple APP Store and Google Play, assists American citizens and organizations across the nation to toll bells in their communities twenty-one times on Monday, November 11, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. local time. The nationwide bell tolling will honor those American men and women who served over one hundred years ago during World War I, as well as saluting all American Veterans who have served their nation at home and abroad in both war and peace.

The organization is also preparing for the 100th Anniversary, 2021, of the burial of an unknown American Soldier who fought and died in World War I, in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers buried in TUS, and all its veterans. The nationwide Bells of Peace initiative also supports the annual SHGTUS National Salute.

In Washington, D.C., bells will toll in the National Cathedral at an interfaith service, marking the 101st anniversary of the armistice that brought an end to hostilities in what Americans fervently hoped had been “The War To End All War.”

“I encourage American Legion and Veterans of foreign Wars posts to not only participate, but to encourage participation—anywhere people may gather on that day to honor and remember,” says John Monahan, the Legion’s representative on the World War One Centennial Commission

The Doughboy Foundation and the Honor Guard Tomb of the Unknown Soldier also encourages the tolling of bells on Veterans Day in communities across the Nation, in places of worship, schools, town halls, public carillons (stationary bells), and cemeteries; at military bases, posts, and stations; aboard ships at sea, on aircraft in the air; and by astronauts in orbit above the earth.

The nationwide program is designed to honor American men and women who served over 100 years ago during World War I, especially the 116, 516 who died. The war ended with an armistice agreement between the warring countries at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918.

Program director Betsy Anderson calls the Bell of Peace a “grassroots efforts, but within communities…What we’re hoping for people to see and say, ‘Oh we have bell we could toll it. What else can we do to recognize those veterans who served in World War I?”

The World War One Centennial Commission has a page on its website (www.1cc.org/bells) where people can find information and tools the conduct the bell ringing, and to meaningfully commemorate the service of local World War I veterans legacy. The Bells of Peace web page include links to poetry, music, sacred service options and more.

“There are a variety of ways people can do this,” Anderson says. “The bottom line is we want everybody to have a chance to participate in the commemoration.”

World War I took place between July 1914 and November 18 and is among the deadliest conflicts in world history. The United State officially entered the war on April 6, 1917. Some 4.7 million Americans stepped forward to serve in uniform, of 2 million were deployed overseas to fight.

Montana stood at the head of the list of all states in the Union in proportion of volunteers with 100.4 above the national average; a total of 11,709 men or 236 per 10,000 population, according the State Adjutant General’s Report. Among Montana volunteers was 14 year old Mike Mansfield of Butte, who enlisted in the United States Navy on February 23, 1918, and later served as Montana Senior Senator and Majority leader in the U.S. Senate and finally as Ambassador to China. In addition to these volunteers, the State had 27,567 accepted for service through the draft.

Due to a mistake in the government estimate, Montana raised troops through the draft law on the basis of a population twice as great as it actually had. Of the 29,638 Montana men called in the draft, 29,446 were inducted and 27, 567 were accepted for service, which was one of the highest ratios in the country. Montana furnished 996 men out of every 10,000 of population compared to 296 for Georgia, which stood at the foot of the list.

Montana lives lost in World War I battle action was ahead of any other state in proportion to population. The loss was about 26 percent greater than the nearest state. A total of 681 Montanan were killed in action or died of wounds, 253 from disease or other causes, a total of 934 dead, 2,469 wounded and a unknown a number missing; a total of 3,433 causalities in the war zone. There were also 618 Montana men in service outside the war zone who died of disease and other causes, making a total of 4,061 World War I casualties for Montana. Many of the battle wounded died later of their war injuries.

Montana citizens did more than their share in supporting Liberty Bond drives during World War I. They oversubscribed in all the drives. In the third bond drive they went 195.9 percent over their quota while in the last “Victory” drive they exceeded their quota by 111.88 percent, with the state ranking 6th out of the 48 in percentage over quota.

Individuals and organizations can sign up online to participate in the bell ringing and follow-up after Nov. 11 with photos and video of their service or ceremony. Posts will be added to the commission’s archive. Participating individuals and organizations are asked to use the hashtags #BellsofPeace and #CountdowntoVeteransDay to spread the word about their intention to Toll the Bells of Peace on Veterans Day, and to highlight photos and articles of their ceremonies afterward.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity to put our veterans’ service in some historical context, and to remind people that it’s important to recognize and commemorate the service and sacrifice of all veterans,” Anderson says.

Congress established the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission to provide education programs, public outreach and commemorative events regarding U.S. involvement in the war. The commission is authorized to create a new national memorial in Washington, D.C. to honor the men and women who served.