Americans urged to ring bells Sunday to mark 100th anniversary of conclusion of World War I
On Sunday at 11 a.m. all the ships pierside in Pearl Harbor will ring their ship bells as part of a nationwide initiative to commemorate Veterans Day and the 100th anniversary of the conclusion of World War I, the Navy said.
Nov. 11 marks the anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended hostilities in WWI.
“To mark this anniversary, the United States WWI Centennial Commission is calling on Americans across the nation to toll bells at 11 a.m. on 11 November in remembrance of those who served in WWI,” the Navy said. “The tolling of bells is a traditional expression of honor and remembrance, and “Bells of Peace” is a national event to honor the 116,516 Americans who died and over 200,000 who were wounded in the war.”
WWI, known at the time as the “Great War” ended at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day on the eleventh month in 1918. Armistice Day was established by President Woodrow Wilson on Nov. 11, 1919, to honor Americans who served during the war.
The name was changed to Veterans Day in 1978 as the day when all veterans are honored.