CARSTAIRS - The bells at Carstairs Bancroft United Church will ring out 100 times at sunset (4:52 p.m.) on Remembrance Day to commemorate the historical anniversary of the end of the First World War.
People are welcome to come out to the church and watch "The Bells of Peace Initiative," said Norma Disney, president of the Carstairs and District Legion.
"We're having our regular Remembrance Day ceremony at Hugh Sutherland School at 10:30 a.m.," said Disney. "Because it is the 100th anniversary of the signing of the armistice, we've been asked to ring the church bells 100 times at sunset."
Disney said they're grateful for the use of the Bancroft United Church's bell.
"They've graciously allowed us to use it," she said. "We're also going to light 100 LED lights. One as each chime occurs. We're hoping it'll be our army cadets in uniform doing that."
According to warmuseum.ca, there were 619,636 Canadians enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War, and approximately 424,000 served overseas. Nearly 61,000 Canadians were killed during the war, and another 172,000 were wounded.
Disney said the ringing of the bell isn't just to honour the soldiers who fought, but the families as well.
"It's to remember the soldiers and the families," she said. "It wasn't just the soldiers who sacrificed, it was the families too. It's highlighting the sacrifice of Canadians. The celebratory bell takes on additional meaning for the descendants of the brave individuals who defended our nation."
