Bells of Peace Initiative November 11
100 Bells Will Toll on November 11th
The Marmora Legion Branch 237 has arranged for a Bells of Peace initiative. This will consist of the following:
100 Bell Chimes from St. Paul's Anglican Church;
Siren from Marmora Fire Department will activate for 100 seconds; and
Recorded 100 Bell Chimes and Amazing Grace, on bagpipes, at Marmora Memorial Park
On November 11, at the going down of the sun, communities across Canada will mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, with the ringing of 100 bells. The ringing of bells emulates the moment in 1918 when church bells across Europe tolled as four years of war had come to an end.
Legion Branches and communities will host commemorative ceremonies and special activities to help Canada Remember. At sunset on November 11, the bells will ring at Parliament Hill, city halls, places of worship, military bases, Naval vessels and at ceremonies across the country to honour Canada's Veterans and commemorate the end of the First World War.
On November 11, 1918 church bells rang out spontaneously across the country to celebrate the signing of the “Armistice.” After four brutal years and so many young men and women dead or injured, the First World War was officially over.
One hundred years ago today, relief and joy swept our land. And as we commemorate Armistice 100 tonight, we mark the occasion through this Royal Canadian Legion Bells of Peace ceremony.
On November 11th our bells will toll 100 times. With each peal, we will remember the close to 66-thousand Canadians and Newfoundlanders at that time, who were killed in the First World War the 172-thousand wounded and the countless others who suffered invisible yet painful wounds.
We also remember the total number of Canadians who served our country during that war – over 650 thousand people. Marmora Legion Branch 237 honours them all. At the setting of the sun, we promise them and their descendants that we will never forget their sacrifices.
Listed below are the Marmora and area soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War One:
Robert J. Nickle
M. Sisson
Fred B. Simmons
Alex M. McFarlane
Harold McWilliams
Archie Bowen
Floyd B. Loveless
Samuel Smith
Thomas Smith
Fred Fry
John Fry
Joseph W. Reynolds
Frank Bertrand
Jonnie Burns
David Emmorey
George Wright
George Webb
James Caldwell
Wilbert Cronkright
Charles Clairmont
Laurance G. Bowen
J. Cecil Feeney
Norman Mumby
George Sellyeh
James Archibell
J. Joseph Murphy
John Leonard
William Phillips
When you hear the bells toll on November 11th, take a moment to pause and remember all those who served and sacrificed.