Smedley D. Butler Brigade of

Veterans For Peace

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11/8/13

Contacts: Lara Hoke 508-615-1686 minister@uuandover.org

Patrick Scanlon 978-590-4248 patscanlonmusic@yahoo.com

Massachusetts Houses of Worship Ring Bells for Armistice Day

Bells to ring at 11:00 a.m. on 11/11

BOSTON: The local Boston chapter of Veterans For Peace (known as the Smedley D. Butler Brigade) is asking houses of worship across Massachusetts to ring their bells for Armistice Day (Veterans Day) this November 11.

Patrick Scanlon, Vietnam veteran and Coordinator of the local VFP chapter, notes that before it became “Veterans Day” in 1954, November 11 was known as “Armistice Day”. “The first Armistice Day was after World War I in 1918. That was supposed to be ‘the war to end all wars’, and it was tradition for churches and houses of worship to ring their bells every year on November 11 at 11:00 a.m. to remember all the losses from war, and as a wish to end war and promote peace. Unfortunately, we’ve gotten away from that tradition.”

Rev. Lara Hoke, US Navy veteran and Secretary of the local VFP chapter as well as the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Andover, is one of those organizing the bell ringing campaign. “This is our first year of trying to bring houses of worship back to the great tradition of ringing bells as a prayer for peace. So far, more than 32 congregations in Massachusetts from eight different faith traditions have committed to ringing their bells on November 11. They represent more than 23 different towns and cities from the Cape and Islands, to Boston, to Metro West, to Worcester and out to western Massachusetts.” Hoke expects far more participants as the Archdiocese of Boston, the Massachusetts Council of Churches, and the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ have just sent invitations to their member congregations to participate.

Not every congregation has traditional bells in a traditional steeple. “For those congregations,” says Hoke, “we’re encouraging them to ring an alternative bell such as a gong from their front steps or door.” One congregation without traditional bells to ring is the Boundless Way Temple, a Zen Buddhist temple in Worcester. Says resident teacher Melissa Myozen Blacker, Roshi, “We'll ring our Temple bell at 11 a.m. – it's pretty quiet, but perhaps it will add to a louder sound and wish for peace.”

Most of the participating congregations, however, do have the iconic bell or bells in their steeple, which will be rung on Monday. One such congregation is Grace Episcopal Church in New Bedford. Says Rev. Christopher Morck, the Priest-in-Charge of Grace Church, “We are participating as a celebration of the intention of this day –peace-building, and the recognition that peace is something toward which we are called to strive continually.”

Another such congregation is Eliot Church of Newton (United Church of Christ). Lawrence Schafer, a 93-year-old World War II veteran, is a member of Eliot Church. “When I was very young, Armistice Day was an important holiday, but Pearl Harbor changed all that,” says Schafer, noting that World War II changed the sense that World War I was the “last war”. Schafer says, “I’m glad that my church is participating in ringing its bells to remind people that war is still a big problem.”

Arlington Street Church in Boston (Unitarian Universalist) has a 16 bell chime (tuned bells) in its steeple that will be ringing on Armistice Day. Says Rev. George Whitehouse, Minister at Large of Arlington Street Church, these bells “were cast the same year that the church was dedicated as the first public building in Back Bay Boston. Arlington Street Church has tolled the bells every year since the beginning of the Armistice Day Declaration. I will be carrying on the tolling the bells as I have since 1979.”

As in years past Veterans For Peace will also have their own Armistice / Veterans Day Parade, marching a few hundred yards behind the first parade sponsored by the American Legion. Scanlon stated, “We who have dutifully served our country, many in time of war, will proudly walk behind the first parade. As in years past, VFP will be the largest contingent of veterans walking the streets of Boston on Armistice / Veterans Day”.

At the conclusion of the parade Veterans For Peace will be hosting their Annual Armistice / Veterans Day for Peace Event at the Sam Adams Park located at the Faneuil Hall Market Place in Boston, beginning at 2:30 pm. There will be veterans speaking and music provided by the Leftist Marching Band.

Veterans for Peace, Chapter 9, Smedley D. Butler Brigade P.O. Box 1604, Andover, MA 01810

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