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The Doughboy Foundation will sponsor the annual Bells of Peace Ceremony on Monday November 11, 2024. Bells of Peace commemorates the end of World War I and pays tribute to the 116,516 Americans who died during that conflict. November 11 is Veterans Day which honors military Veterans in the United States Armed Forces. Originally the date was known as Armistice Day which commemorated the cessation of hostilities in WWI and is observed in other countries as Remembrance Day. In addition to remembering the original intent of Armistice Day we also honor the service of all American Veterans.

You can purchase a collector’s item of the 2018 Bells of Peace coin, pin or 6 pack of pins and coins commemorating the centennial of the end of WWI.
Just click on the image above.

The Bells of Peace Ceremony will be live streamed starting at 1045 am
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At The National World War I Memorial in Washington DC we will remember and observe the original intent of November 11 with a multi-national commemoration ceremony and observe the day with a program remembering the 4.7 million Americans who served and all those who served with other nations.

This year we will commemorate the Bicentennial of Marquis de Lafayette’s visit to the United States. His visit in 1824 came almost fifty years after France came to aid America in its quest for Independence and is being celebrated throughout the United States with ceremonies and events sponsored by the American Friends of Lafayette. French General François Lecointre will offer brief remarks before awarding the Legion of Honor/French Order of the Merit to United States and French service members.

We will also honor the work being done to award the US Army women telephone operators, known as the Hello Girls, the Congressional Gold Medal. Speaking on their behalf will be the granddaughters of two of the Hello Girls. Our main speaker will be former WWI Centennial Commissioner Mr. John Monahan. A 20-year veteran of the U.S. Army, John Monahan served in uniform both as an enlisted soldier and as an officer. His military career was wide-ranging, including duties as a rifleman, tank company commander, foreign area expert, staff officer, linguist, and arms-control inspector. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Rhode Island and a master’s degree in European studies from Cornell University. Since his retirement from the Army in 1995, Monahan has been active in veterans leadership at the local, state, and national levels. He served as a WWI Centennial Commissioner from 2017-2024

Wreaths will be presented from embassies and Veteran organizations. The National WWI brass bell will be rung 21 times and the solemn bugle calls of Aux Morts, Last Post and Taps will be sounded in honor of those who gave their lives during WWI.

The ceremony is free and open to the public.

  • Bells of peace at WWI Memorial 2021
  • Dayton Remarks
  • NHHC ship's bell

Schedule of Events

  • PRE-CEREMONY MUSIC- AEF Band Brass Quintet
  • INTRODUCTION Mr. Jari Villanueva President, The Doughboy Foundation

  • PRESENTATION OF COLORS by the Joint Service Color Guard

  • UNITED STATES ANTHEM performed by the AEF Brass Quintet

  • INVOCATION Rev. Anne Weatherholt

  • REMARKS Mrs. Agnès von der Mühl, Deputy Chief of Mission

  • AWARDS Gen François Lecointre. The awarding the Legion of Honor/French Order of the Merit to US and French service members.

  • REMARKS Catherine Bourgin and Carolyn Timbie, Granddaughters of Hello Girls Marie Edmee LeRoux and Grace Banker
  • MUSICAL SELECTION “Hail To The Spirit of Liberty” by John Philip Sousa AEF Band Brass Quintet

  • REMARKS Mr. John Monahan
  • POEM Young Dead Soldiers Do Not Speak” Mr. Daniel Dayton

  • BELL OF PEACE RUNG by Pershing Rifle Cadet Josh Rogers

  • PRESENTATION OF WREATHS by Embassies and other organizations

  • AUX MORTS, THE LAST POST, TAPS

Your support for the Doughboy Foundation will help fund our mission in perpetuity, inspiring future generations of visitors and forever honoring our World War I veterans and all U.S. servicemen and women. Donate today →

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