Bells Ring Out Joy For End of Violent Conflict

Each year, Veterans for Peace Chapter 27 asks churches and other groups to join with us and ring the bells on or around Armistice Day, November 11.

The Armistice of 1918 ended the terrible slaughter of World War I. The U.S. had experienced the death of over 116,000 men, plus many who were physically and mentally disabled, severely needing ongoing care. For one moment at the 11th hour of the 11th day on the 11th month, 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918 , the World agreed that World War 1, must be the War to End All Wars. There was exuberant joy everywhere and many churches rang their bells, some 11 times, to mark the signing of the armistice.

Veterans For Peace, local chapter 27, will hold its annual bell ringing ceremony on Armistice/Veterans Day at the First Shot Memorial on Minnesota’s Capitol grounds, on November 11th at 11 a.m. Members and supporters should gather at 10:30 to participate in the ceremony.

The churches and organizations listed below are ringing bells and committing to working for peace on or about Armistice Day November 11th, the anniversary of the end of World War I “the war to end all wars” when bells were joyously rung around the world.

In 2012 there was even more, as the event was being promoted thru Move to Amend at www.movetoamend.org, knowing that too much of the corporate money, influencing our electoral process and democracy, is heavily tied up in maintaining the infrastructure that wants us to be in perpetual warfare.

We are also partnered with Minnesota Arms Spending Alternatives Project at www.mnasap.org, originated by Jack Nelson Pallmeyer, and calling for shifting excessive war spending from the interests of a few, back to meeting the essential needs of the many back home.