2017 Summer Newsletter

LIBERTY BELL TOUR I n April of 1917, as the U. S. moved closer to war it was de termined that a war bond drive was needed to raise funds to save the world from the German menace. Billions were needed and quickly. The government was desperate. The Committee of Public Information came up with the idea of using the Liberty Bell as a tool to raise war bond support and help develop loyalty and support for the war effort. The 2,080 pound bell had been silent and almost aban doned in Philadelphia when it was no longer our capital and Washington, D C had became the seat of our government. The bell had been cracked in 1844 after being rung at an an niversary of Washington’s birthday. From the Revolution ary days it had been sparingly rung even though it was the original bell in Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was written and signed. After the crack de veloped it was worked on by Philadelphia city workers to try to strengthen it for future use but the crack continued to be present and was a detriment for its use as a bell. It was taken on several trips to display in the 1800’s to Chica go, St. Louis and a few other cities for exhibition. But it did not have the recognition as a symbol of America until it was used in WWI.

A grand plan was developed to send the bell on a “National Tour” from coast to coast. Over 1/4 of the nations citizens made the effort to view the bell as it toured America. It stopped in 275 cities (including Topeka, Atchison, Leaven worth, Kansas City). Many more went to railroad lines to see it pass as it moved across the nation. The bell became a unifying symbol to a nation previously divided on entering the war. The train was called the “Lib erty Bell Special”. After the tour on Flag Day, June 14, 1917, the bell was rung and the sound carried by a new national telephone system throughout America. That was followed by ringing of bells in every community in America: church bells, schools bells and public buildings. With the ringing of the bells, it was a call to America to come buy bonds and support the war. Thus began the greatest adventure and a phenomenal fund raising effort for WWI. Over 17 Billion dollars was raised in War Bonds and millions of Americans came to venerate and make the Liberty Bell our unifying symbol of America. The tour and use of the Liberty Bell was one of the great est achievements for the war propaganda ever completed. (Stephen Fried wrote of the bell in the April 2017 Smithso nian from which most of the information was taken.) Larry Lybarger

Page 15