St. Michaels, Maryland: A bell from the last bell foundry in Baltimore. On Nov. 11, 2018, bells across Maryland with be sounded as part of the Bells of Peace WWI Armistice Day commemoration. (Anthony C. Hayes)

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Bells of Peace will toll on Sunday to honor World War I veterans

Press Release

Maryland Joins Nation in Bells of Peace to Commemorate Sacrifices of more than 60,000 Veterans

ANNAPOLIS, MD – In response to the worldwide celebration of the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, Governor Larry Hogan recently issued a proclamation calling for bells to be tolled in Maryland on November 11, 2018 at 11:00 am in remembrance of veterans of World War I. The proclamation coincides with a call by the United States World War I Centennial Commission for all Americans to participate in a national tolling of bells.

“Over 62,000 Marylanders served honorably during World War I, making incredible sacrifices to bring justice and freedom to all people,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “Today, on the anniversary of the Hundred Days Offensive marking the beginning of the end of World War I, I am proud to issue this proclamation calling on all Marylanders to join me on November 11th at 11:00 am in participating in the bell tolling to honor our veterans who served in the Great War.”

The new bells of Notre Dame de Paris on display in the nave in February 2013 before being hung in the towers of the cathedral. Durring WWI, bells were only sounded as a warning of an enemy attack. (Wikimedia)

Sunday, November 11, 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice which ended World War I. To commemorate the occasion, in 2015 Governor Larry Hogan created the Maryland World War I Centennial Commission through an executive order to create ways for the state’s residents and its visitors to remember, commemorate, and learn about the meaning of World War I and the role of Marylanders during that time. In addition, the commission is tasked with developing activities and events to recognize the anniversary. Under the leadership of the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives, the Commission has worked towards preserving and promoting the history of all 62,000 Marylanders who served in World War I, including 11,000 African Americans and 6,000 women.

“We thank Governor Hogan for joining states across the nation in tolling bells to honor veterans of World War I,” said David Craig, Director of the World War I Centennial Commission. “Marylanders served a significant role in the Great War with nearly 2,000 giving the ultimate sacrifice, and the Maryland World War I Centennial Commission is committed to honoring the sacrifices of our ancestors.”

“On behalf of the Maryland World War I Centennial Commission, I would like to thank Governor Hogan for his continued support of our efforts to recognize the heroes of the Great War,” said Joseph Suarez, Chair of the Maryland World War I Centennial Commission. “Since the establishment of our Commission by Executive Order in 2015, we have committed to telling the story of Marylanders who served and sacrificed both on the battlefield and on the home front during the Great War. The solemnity of the bell tolling that is taking place across the nation and in every town and community in Maryland is a reminder of that human sacrifice that helped to change the world.”

Marylanders are asked to toll the bells twenty-one times with a five-second interval between tolls beginning at 11:00 am on Sunday, November 11, 2018 in commemoration of the armistice. Organizations, towns, churches and museums across the state will also participate by listing the names of those involved in the Great War from their site.

The action of tolling the bells has historical significance as a signal indicating the end of World War I. During the War, all church bells were silenced only to ring as a warning of invasion by enemy troops.

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Over 10,000 people and organizations have signed up for the Bells of Peace project, promising to toll bells on November 11, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. local time to commemorate the Centennial of the Armistice and the service and sacrifice of the nation’s veterans. Bells will be tolled 21 times, at 5 second intervals, across the nation and wherever Americans gather to honor their veterans. It’s not too late to register and participate! Download the free app on the App Store or Google Play, and register and upload images of your community’s commemoration event. Or, register on our website at ww1cc.org/bells. And click here to find out what other organizations nationwide are participating in Bells of Peace next Sunday, November 11, including the National Museum of the Marine Corps, and many others.