At the eleventh hour of the eleventh month in 1918 the armistice ending the bloodiest war in human history, up to that point took hold. The effects of that bloody war are still with us in such diverse places as the Middle East, the Balkans, Asia, and Africa. The ending of that war was one of the most significant events in human history. This day was originally known in this country as “Armistice Day” and became known as “Veterans Day” in the 1950s. To commemorate the centennial of this world-changing milestone, the World of Little League® Museum and Official Store will be joining hundreds of museums from around the United States in a commemorative “Bells of Peace” event, as part of the U.S. WWI Centennial Commission, to pay tribute to the 100th Anniversary of the armistice of World War I in a salute to Veteran’s Day.

“There are more than 800 veterans of World War I who are buried in Lycoming County, and thousands more from other wars,” Lance Van Auken, Little League Vice President and Executive Director of the Museum, told Webb Weekly. “This is a simple way to honor them, and all veterans, but it’s also to honor the idea that peace is attainable.”

At precisely 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, the museum will ring its bell 21 times, marking the exact moment of the conclusion of World War I. The museum’s bell is sand-cast brass and weighs about 70 pounds, and was previously used during Summer Camp to alert campers to report to the dining hall for dinner.

The memorable event will also pay tribute to the first Little Leaguer® to perish in combat, Victor Staccone. Pfc. Staccone played Little League in the 1940s and served in the U.S. Army 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On January 26, 1951, 17-year-old Pfc. Staccone was killed in action while serving during the Korean War.

According to the Historical Organizations of Lycoming County, in addition to the hundreds of museums and churches throughout the country participating in this event, the Little League Museum is expected to be joined locally in this observance by such entities, organizations, and churches as: Pennsylvania College of Technology, Jersey Shore Presbyterian Church, Oval United Methodist Church, the Lycoming County Veterans Park, Trinity Episcopal Church, Picture Rocks United Methodist Church — where congregations from Kedron, Point Bethel, Tivoli, and Picture Rocks Baptist Church will converge for a commemoration — Lock Haven Great Island Presbyterian Church, and St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Muncy — who will be joined by the Clarkstown United Methodist Church, among others. At 2 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery, they will rededicate the World War I memorial there.