Nation’s First Tribute Bell Tower Honoring Veterans to Be Installed in Rising Sun, Indiana

Heart of America Sets Tone to Honor our Past, Present and Future Military Heroes

RISING SUN, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rising Sun, Indiana may only be a few miles long, but this town of 2,400 is making a grand effort in honor of our nation’s military. On April 4 and 5, the town celebrates the arrival and installation of the nation’s first Veterans Tribute Bell Tower –including a custom-cast, bronze bell weighing 250 pounds. The bell, a unique way to honor past, present and future veterans, will be poured, cast and installed for the entire community to experience.

The Verdin Company will use its one of a kind “Bell Foundry on Wheels,” a special on-site casting process in which the community helps create the custom bronze bell. Before the cast is made, more than 900 students from Rising Sun’s only school will take part in an ‘ingot brigade’ loading 500 pounds of bronze ingots into the 2200 degree furnace. “We hope this event will help our children understand the importance of honoring our military service men and women,” says Rising Sun’s Mayor Bill Marksberry. “This bell will be a voice for our community in our tributes to honor past, current and future veterans.” This is a historic event for a town already rich in history. Rising Sun, founded in 1814, is located in Ohio County one of the five smallest counties in the United States.

The Verdin Company based in Cincinnati, Ohio was founded in 1842 and is one of the oldest family-owned companies in America, spanning six generations. The Verdin family is committed to helping the military and their families, and created the Veterans Tribute Towers as a way to enable communities across the nation to say thanks to their veterans. For each tower sold, Verdin plans to donate a portion of revenue generated to the Commission on the Future of America’s Veterans, a Washington-based nonprofit formed in June 2006 to address the staggering challenges facing 21^st century veterans. “The 30-foot tall tower stands as a lasting tribute to veterans,” says Jim Verdin, president of The Verdin Company. “It’s also an opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to veterans in honor of their selfless service to our nation.”

Sammy Davis, a Medal of Honor recipient from the Vietnam War is one of the honored guests for this event. More than 40 years ago, Davis repeatedly risked his life to save his comrades. He is one of only 105 Medal of Honor recipients still living.

Retired Air Force Col. Kurt Lohide, former commander of the 435th Air Base Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany and Rising Sun native, will also be honored. During Col. Lohide’s distinguished 28 year career, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross while participating in combat operations during Operation Desert Storm. As the wing commander in Ramstein, Col. Lohide was involved in the repatriation of journalist Jill Carroll following her release from captivity in Iraq.

The two-day Tribute Bell Tower celebration involves the entire community and includes an ingot parade, loading of the bronze ingots, bell pouring and casting. On Saturday, April 5, the town will watch as the bell mold is broken with a large sledgehammer exposing the customized bronze bell for all to see. The Veterans Tribute Bell Tower is made possible by the city of Rising Sun and the Rising Sun Regional Foundation.

Tribute Bell Tower Installation Timeline:

Friday, April 4, 2008
8 a.m.		Ingot Parade: More than 900 local students and area veterans will load 500 pounds of bronze ingots into furnace
2 p.m.		Stack cores and create bell mold
6 p.m.		Bell pouring and casting
Saturday, April 5, 2008
9 a.m.		Bell breakout, grind and polish
Noon		Placement of wreaths
12:30		Caledonia Bagpipers from Cincinnati perform
2 p.m.		Formal Dedication
2:30 p.m.		Wreath drop from plane
2:45 p.m.		First bell ringing by Indiana Veterans

Bell Facts:

• The furnace can turn 500 pounds of bronze into molten liquid in two to three hours
• Each bell weighs 250 pounds
• The bell will ring with the musical note “E”
• Bronze metal is a combination of 80 percent copper and 20 percent tin
• The largest swinging bell in the world is a Verdin Bell—the World Peace Bell in Newport, Ky. It weighs 66,000 pounds and is 12 feet tall and 12 feet wide.

Rising Sun, Indiana is:

• 45 minutes from Cincinnati,OH
• 85 minutes from Louisville, KY
• 85 minutes from Indianapolis, IN