The Ringing World, September 20, 2002

September 11, Washington
Alexander Taft

On September 11, 2002, during a day of National Remembrance, the Washington Ringing Society rang in multiple events. At 08:46, the tenor at the Old Post Office tolled, signifying both the first plane impact and the dedication of a memorial for a neighboring IRS employee Dave Bernard killed one year ago. The self-proclaimed “Minutemen,” who last year rang on short notice (less than an hour) at the bequest of the Government, rang again this year for the next hour including short touches of length equal to the passenger count for each of the three crashed flights.

Following the chiming of the bourdon bell at the national Cathedral, eight local ringers pulled off to a half-muffled quarter peal attempt of Stedman Triples. Already, the WRS has received many commendations from area residents describing the tranquil and reflective nature of the ringing. “There were many other people sitting in the garden quietly listening, too—no one was talking, which was wonderful. It was exactly what I needed that morning.”

The day concluded with a successful half-peal of Grandsire Caters on the Congress Bells of the Old Post Office in coordination with a national candlelight vigil held on Freedom Plaza in the National Mall. Many thanks to Edward W. Martin for such a beautiful and elegant composition (on such short notice) for such an unusual number; we rang a change for each of the 3005 victim names read at the service held that day at the National Cathedral.

The quality of the ringing left every band member with a great sense of accomplishment, and the surrounding community with a greater appreciation of what Change Ringing truly is.