‘Liberty rings on’ in Clinton
Executive Director of The Hollingsworth Foundation Mike Wallace points out some of the detail of the Liberty Bell at Aspire Park Sunday morning before ringing it at exactly 8:46 a.m. — a memorial marking the exact time of the attack on the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. holds a replica of The Liberty Bell. In part of the housing holding this replica is metal from the Twin Towers attacked on Sept. 11, 2001. “As we have been able to incorporate a piece of metal from the Fallen Towers into the bell and assembly, we realize SEE LIBERTY, PAGE 2A SEPT. 11, 2022 -- The bell in Aspire Park was rang at exactly 8:46 a.m. — when the first plane hit the first tower in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. The bell was rang again at 9:37 a.m. — the time of the second plane hitting the second tower. METAL -- Metal from the fallen Twin Towers was used in the bell housing assembly. Because of the unique make up of the bell itself, the Twin Towers metal could not be used in the actual bell. The bell at Aspire Park is made of bronze. THE BELL -- The bell at Aspire Park was created by the McShane Bell Company. It took six months to create. SOUND -- The bell chime is tuned to the Tone F. LIBERTY -- The bell at Aspire Park is an exact replica of the Liberty Bell. It has the same inscription as the original Liberty Bell. WEIGHT -- The Liberty Bell replica at Aspire Park weighs 336 pounds and is 24” in diameter. (photo:Tony Cox )
Throughout our country’s history — 235 years’ worth of our grand Democratic society — America is still looked upon as a beacon of what freedom and liberty can be.
On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists attacked our country, attacked our way of life.
When Joe Hollingsworth Jr. began his vision for Aspire Park in South Clinton, he envisioned something more than peaceful green spaces and aesthetics.
He also saw the service and sacrifice and commitment it takes to have a country where such things are possible.
If you drive past Aspire Park, you can see the metal spires in the foreground — the heart of the Service and Sacrifice Memorial.
Because to have our way of life, to have our freedom and our liberty, it takes service and sacrifice.
Part of this memorial holds a replica of The Liberty Bell. In part of the housing holding this replica is metal from the Twin Towers attacked on Sept. 11, 2001.
“As we have been able to incorporate a piece of metal from the Fallen Towers into the bell and assembly, we realize that the damage that the terrorists attempted to do to our liberty now rings louder than ever, and as this bell chimes, it is a reminder that our liberty lives on,” Hollingsworth said.
It wasn’t a huge ceremony compared to the many other memorials and ceremonies held throughout Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, and yet somehow it was.
Every ceremony, every memorial held on Sept. 11 is a reminder that we are still free, that we still cherish our liberty, and that we, as a nation, remember and respect so many for their service and sacrifice. So, at 8:46 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, (and again at exactly 9:37 a.m.), Mike Wallace, executive director of The Hollingsworth Foundation, rang the bell in the Service and Sacrifice Memorial in Aspire Park.
“The Aspire Foundation is grateful for the vital contributions of our military veterans and first responders. The Service and Sacrifice Memorial honors those men and women and celebrates the freedom granted in the Declaration of Independence,” Wallace said after the bell chimed.
No, it wasn’t a big ceremony.
Yet, it was.
Because “Liberty Rings On.”
Liberty rings on
Sept. 11, 2022 -- The bell in Aspire Park was rang at exactly 8:46 a.m. — when the first plane hit the first tower in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. The bell was rang again at 9:37 a.m. — the time of the second plane hitting the second tower.
Metal -- Metal from the fallen Twin Towers was used in the bell housing assembly. Because of the unique make up of the bell itself, the Twin Towers metal could not be used in the actual bell. The bell at Aspire Park is made of bronze.
The bell -- The bell at Aspire Park was created by the McShane Bell Company. It took six months to create.
Sound -- The bell chime is tuned to the Tone F.
Liberty -- The bell at Aspire Park is an exact replica of the Liberty Bell. It has the same inscription as the original Liberty Bell.
Weight -- The Liberty Bell replica at Aspire Park weighs 336 pounds and is 24” in diameter.