LWV recognizes veterans at the City of Bells event

Bells tolled across Minnesota on Friday, November 11 at 11AM, including the Minnesota Liberty Bell located on the campus of the State Capitol. Michelle Witte, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters Minnesota, spoke to attendees and tolled the Liberty Bell 11 times at 11AM. An ensemble of trumpeters, who are also veterans, played America the Beautiful, arranged by Bill Mathis, and Taps at the conclusion of the program.  

As part of this celebration, bells across the nation rang out 11 times at 11am on November 11.  

From Michelle’s remarks: The Liberty Bill actually gained its iconic importance when abolitionists, in their efforts to put an end to slavery throughout America, adopted it as a symbol for the movement.  It was first used in this association as a headline to an 1837 edition of Liberty, published by the New York Anti-Slavery Society.  
It was, in fact, the abolitionists who gave it the name “Liberty Bell”, in reference to its inscription.  The bell, which originally rand as freedom from powers without, now is also a symbol for freedom and justice within.  That struggle, for many Americans, is still ongoing.   

Left to right: LWV ABC's Joan Molenaar with her husband Larry's service flag, LWV MN Executive Director Michelle Witte, LWV MN Associate Director Amy Perna and Gretchen Sabel, LWV ABC member.

A reporter from the Star Tribune was at this event: LWV ABC's Joan Molenaar was on the front page on Saturday.  Here's a link to the article, which covered  Veteran's Day events in the Twin Cities.  

History of Minnesota's Liberty Bell: Liberty Bell #9 was given to Minnesota in 1950. The United States Treasury Department commissioned the Paccard Foundry in Annecy, France to create 57 replicas of the famed Liberty Bell to be given to every state and territory. Minnesota is home to some of the largest bell installations in the United States. City of Bells, founded in 2015 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, coordinates bell ringing across Minnesota on four holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Veterans Day.

"Today, more than ever, our communities need to hear messages of hope, peace and comfort. Historically, bells have been used to spread messages to people in times of need and distress. Bells call people to worship, evoke the divine, call citizens to safety and sanctuary, as well as offering hope and courage. Today, City of Bells brings back the tradition of community bell ringing to mark civic occasions. As the public has grown weary with so much loss and change since the pandemic, bells offer a new way to build and maintain a sense of community. When there are no more words, the bells touch our soul, bells are the heartbeat of our community.” -Rebecca Jorgenson Sundquist, Founder City of Bells.