The Archdiocese of St. Louis donated two church bells for the cemetery at new Veterans Memorial in Perryville
PERRYVILLE, MO (June 2018): Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial (MNVM) is thrilled to have the
support of the Archdiocese of St. Louis through a bell donation for the memorial. The archdiocese kindly
donated two bells from the St. Boniface Church in St. Louis for a future bell tower that will overlook the
cemetery at the Memorial in Perryville.
The bells have been a part of the St. Boniface Church for 150 years, and were placed and blessed by
Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick on August 16, 1868. Since then the church has closed, but the life and
memories these bells carry with them will live on at America’s preeminent Veterans Memorial in
Missouri.
“We are grateful the Archdiocese of St. Louis contributed these gifts to our Memorial,” said Nancy Guth,
Executive Director of Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial. “Being a privately-funded nonprofit, we
depend on the support from individuals and institutions like the Archdiocese of St. Louis to continue our
mission to honor America’s veterans.”
In addition to the donated bells, Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial purchased another bell for the
bell tower, and Jim Eddleman, a founding donor to MNVM, generously bought a fourth bell to be
housed in the museum at the Memorial.
“These bells have a rich history and we are honored to give them a new home at the Memorial,” said
Randy Rathert, Director of Building and Real Estate for the archdiocese.
The bells are currently being refurbished in Cincinnati and will be brought to the Memorial once enough
funds are raised from individual and organizational donations. For more information and to support this
Memorial please visit www.mnvmfund.org or go to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/americaswall.
ABOUT MISSOURI’S NATIONAL VETERANS MEMORIAL
The mission of Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial is to provide an environment of peace and
reflection as a tribute to America’s service men and women and their families. Supporting the Memorial,
the Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial Fund is a non-profit organization that began as the vision of
several local veterans and citizens who wanted to honor and respect their fellow brothers and sisters in
arms. The Perryville, Missouri-based Memorial will give visitors the opportunity to personally pay tribute
to the veterans in their lives and honor those who have served.