Churches and schools are asked to sound their bells July 4 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation on July 4, social institutions are asked to promote the sounding of their bells.

“As we near the 250th anniversary and celebration of this great nation, we are requesting area churches and institutions with bells to commemorate this occasion by sounding your bell(s),” Rory Koons, a bell restorer from Lower Towamensing Township said.

Koons asked for everyone to consider sounding their bells, manually or electronically at 2:50 p.m. July 4.

He said guidelines suggest tolling the bells 13 times or as outlined in the National Bell Festival link, Bell Ringing Guidelines for America’s 250th National Bell Festival.

Koons noted one important precaution is to toll the bells with caution, as “many bells in the past have been damaged due to “overzealous” ringing,”

“Keep in mind, many of these treasures are over 100 years old and care to preserve their integrity is paramount,” he said. “Please consider being a part of this momentous occasion.”

To help commemorate the 250th anniversary of our nation on July 4, the Palmerton Area Chamber of Commerce and Palmerton Area Historical Society are taking part in the “Bells Across PA” campaign.

Through their joint efforts, they are showcasing some of Palmerton’s local bells through a presentation that will be conducted by Koons.

On behalf of the Palmerton Area Historical Society, Koons will give a presentation on all the bells of the Palmerton area at 6:30 p.m. July 13 at the Palmerton Area Library.

Koons said that in mid-2024, Frank Hager and the Rev. Michael E. Mullins were looking for someone to restore the church bell that had sat in the Sacred Heart garage for decades, and that his name had surfaced.

The bell was removed from their chapel, or the Holy Cross Church in Bowmanstown (currently owned by The Carbon Model Railroad Society), before selling the building in 1997.

Koons said work began in August 2024, and 125-plus hours later, it was completed.

He has documented two dozen bells, along with the respective church or institution within the PAHS area, and from this collection, added that the project has morphed into a larger geographical area encompassing bells in Carbon County.