John Widmann, Carillonneur for The City of Frederick, will join carillonneurs worldwide to mark the 100th Anniversary of the unofficial Christmas Truce of 1914.
Mayor Randy McClement
101 N Court Street
Frederick, MD 21701
www.cityoffrederick.com
Contact: Susan Harding
Public Information Coordinator
Phone: (301)600-1385
susan@cityoffrederick.com
MEDIA RELEASE
City to Mark 100th Anniversary of the Unofficial Christmas Truce of 1914
Carillon Bells to Play “Silent Night” on Christmas Eve
Frederick, MD December, 2014: John Widmann, Carillonneur for The City of Frederick, will join carillonneurs worldwide to mark the 100th Anniversary of the unofficial Christmas Truce of 1914. Widmann will play “Silent Night” on December 24th at 19:14 military time (7:14 PM) on the carillon bells in Baker Park. Carillonneurs around the globe will mark this historic event in their time zones at 19:14 military time by also playing “Silent Night”.
On Christmas Eve in 1914, German and British soldiers in the trenches began to concurrently sing “Silent Night” each in their own language. That event began an “unofficial” truce that lasted until about New Year’s Day. During that time, soldiers came out of the trenches, greeted each other and exchanged gifts. Since that time, it has been referred to as the Christmas Truce.
“To visualize what Christmas Eve must have been like for those soldiers is humbling. I want to thank John for including The City of Frederick in this international event.” said Mayor Randy McClement.
Widmann added, “I am joining my colleagues, playing the bells at 19:14 military time, celebrating the peace that we mostly enjoy these days, especially here in Frederick.”
Widmann will also play at the Carillon in Baker Park on December 26th at 4:00, 5:00 and 6:00 PM during the 27th Annual Candlelight Tour of Historic Houses of Workshop in Downtown Frederick.
For additional information contact: John Widmann at jwidmann@yahoo.com
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