By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

ELLIS–The Honor Bell Foundation, based in Denver, is creating a community of veterans to foster public appreciation of military service and honor their fellow veterans with a proper, final tribute.

The first-ever Honor Bell is being made from metal artifacts, including military medals and pins,  donated by families of deceased Colorado veterans.

The “Birth of the Bell” tour will stop in Ellis Saturday afternoon with the artifacts on its way to Cincinnati, Ohio, where the bell will be forged.

Ellis Police Chief and retired Army Ranger Taft Yates, said the public is invited to visit with Honor Bell Foundation founder and CEO, Lou Olivera–who is also a Vietnam vet–in the Fischer Liquor Store parking lot from 1:45 to 2:15 p.m. .

“These artifacts get melted into the material which becomes the bell,” Yates explained.

“The goal of the foundation–and it may take a very long time–is to have one of these 1,000 pound Honor Bells in every national cemetery in the U.S.   They can be used at various ceremonies–Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Wreaths Across America–and military funerals.”

The “Birth of the Bell Tour” riders include Patriot Guard Riders, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, VFW Warriors, American Legion Riders and others who ride along as far as they like.

The group is scheduled to arrive in Cincinnati Sunday, May 8, with foundry casting to begin Monday, May 9.  The mold is expected to be broken Thu., May 12, to reveal the Honor Bell and prepare it for tuning, polishing and mounting.

Saturday, May 21–Armed Forces Day–the “Forged With Honor Tour” will begin the journey with the Honor Bell from Ohio home to Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver.

For more information or to make a donation to the Honor Bell Foundation, go online at www.honorbell.org or Facebook.