Bell-Ringing Commemorates Anniversary of Civil War's End
At precisely 3:15 p.m. on April 9, the Chapel Bells at Groton School rang for four minutes in honor of the end of the American Civil War.
At the same time 150 years ago at Appomattox courthouse in Virginia, Ulysses S. Grant, then Union commander of the Army of the Potomac, accepted the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia from Confederate commander Robert E. Lee, effectively ending the Civil War.
Pealing the Chapel bells were Abby Power '17, Cherian Yit '17, Abby Kong '17, Nick Barry '16, Zhamoyani McMillan '16, history teacher Tom Lamont, and Groton School's chaplain, the Reverend Beth Humphrey.
In addition to ringing the bells, this morning in Chapel, just before the morning prayer, Ms. Humphrey spoke eloquently about the significance of this day, concluding her remarks by quoting the closing section of Lincoln's second inaugural address.
Pealing the Chapel bells were Abby Power '17, Cherian Yit '17, Abby Kong '17, Nick Barry '16, Zhamoyani McMillan '16, history teacher Tom Lamont, and Groton School's chaplain, the Reverend Beth Humphrey.
In addition to ringing the bells, this morning in Chapel, just before the morning prayer, Ms. Humphrey spoke eloquently about the significance of this day, concluding her remarks by quoting the closing section of Lincoln's second inaugural address.
Groton alumnus Tom Moser '64, a self-professed Civil War "buff," alerted the School that the National Park Service was sponsoring today's nationwide event, called "Bells Across the Land: A Nation Remembers Appomattox".—Tom Lamont
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