On Thursday, April 9th at 3:15 PM, Mayor Randy McClement will ring the bells of City Hall joining the National Park Service in “Bells across the Land: A Nation Remembers Appomattox.
MEDIA RELEASE
Mayor Joins in Bells across the Land
Thursday, April 9th at 3:15 PM
Frederick, MD – April 8, 2015: On Thursday, April 9th at 3:15 PM, Mayor Randy McClement will ring the bells of City Hall joining the National Park Service in “Bells across the Land: A Nation Remembers Appomattox. City Hall, along with churches, government buildings, schools, fire stations and historic sites across the Heritage Area in Frederick, Carroll and Washington counties will participate in the commemorative bell ringing.
“It is an honor for The City of Frederick to participate in this event. I try to imagine how Mayor Jacob Engelbrecht felt and what he witnessed in our City during the days that the 4 year Civil War came to an end. Ringing the City Hall bells at 3:15 PM reflects the joy, that I am sure, came over the community in April of 1865.” said Mayor McClement.
Marking the 150th anniversary of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House, Virginia – which ultimately led to the end of the American Civil War - the bells will toll for four minutes, one minute for each year of the war. The April 9th ceremony will kick off other end-of-war commemorations across the Heritage Area.
Best-selling author James Swanson (Author of The Manhunt – the 12 Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer and Chasing Lincoln’s Killer) will present a lecture in the City Hall Boardroom on Friday, April 10th at 7:00 PM. A Grand Illumination Ceremony in City Hall Park in front of City Hall will follow at 8:30 PM (weather permitting). At 9:30 PM, a walking tour will leave from City Hall visiting such notable places as Kemp Hall.
All activities are free and open to the public. For additional information contact Elizabeth Shatto, Executive Director, Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, 301-600-4042/ info@heartofthecivilwar.org or Susan Harding, Public Information Coordinator, The City of Frederick at 301-600-1385 / susan@cityoffrederick.com
###