Scroll Top

At the 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month

At the 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month
By VFPchapter27 Armistice Campaigns

Over 174 churches throughout Minnesota Rang Bells for Armistice Day in 2012

VFP chapters across the country will be commemorating Armistice Day by ringing bells for peace! See the list here.

Each year, Veterans for Peace chapters across the nation meet in major cities to celebrate and remember the original Armistice Day (See the current list) as was done at the end of World War I, when the world came together in realization that war is so horrible we must end it now.  Fighting ceased in the “war to end all wars” on the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Congress responded to a universal hope among Americans for no more wars by passing a resolution calling for “exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding … inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.” Later, Congress added that November 11th was to be “a day dedicated to the cause of world peace.”

Add your church to the list for 2013. The ceremony is very simple but profound. Join us this year!

Follow the three simple steps below to participate in this important and sacred ceremony, on or around November 11th.

  • Read the following Armistice Statement:

The Armistice of 1918 ended the terrible slaughter of World War I. The U.S. alone had experienced the death of over 116,000 soldiers, plus many more who were physically and mentally disabled. For one moment, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the world agreed World War I must be considered the WAR TO END ALL WARS. There was exuberant joy everywhere, and many churches rang their bells, some 11 times at 11 a.m. on November 11th, when the Armistice was signed. For many years this practice endured, and then slowly, it faded away. Now we do it again. We ring the bells 11 times, followed by a moment of silence, to remember the many soldiers and civilians killed and injured by warfare, and to make our own commitment to work for peace, in our family, our church, our community, our nation, our world. GOD BLESS THE ENTIRE WORLD.

  • Ring a bell 11 times (church bells or other)

  • Call for “a moment of silence to remember all those, here and around the world, lost or scarred by the tragedy of war.“

Let us know that you participated!