Replica Liberty Bell set to travel to all Lebanon County Schools

A wooden replica of the Liberty Bell will visit each of the Lebanon County school districts through the end of the school year to celebrate the 250-year anniversary of the United States of America’s declaration of independence in 1776.

The bell started its journey by spending January rotating through the schools in the Cornwall-Lebanon School District.

Cornwall-Lebanon superintendent Philip Domencic said they used the Liberty Bell as a resource for students. He said teachers did a great job of incorporating it into their lessons.

“Cornwall-Lebanon School District is excited about having the wooden Liberty Bell traveling to each of our school buildings,” he said. “We’ve always believed in promoting patriotism and teaching students about our country and our nation’s history.”

Cedar Crest High School principal Chris Groff said many students had seen the real-life Liberty Bell during trips to Philadelphia, so students could reconnect to prior experiences as the country’s 250th anniversary approaches.

“Our students thought the Liberty Bell carving was very cool,” he said. “Many of our students were taking pictures of it, selfies with it, and our photography classes spent a good amount of time photographing it.”

Groff said the replica in the schools made “history feel real” for the students.

Gregory Fulkerson, principal at Ebenezer Elementary School, said they kept the bell on the stage in the cafeteria. While students ate, they asked lunch proctors and classroom teachers about it, he said, and they were particularly amazed at how it was carved out of wood.

“I believe the significance of having the Liberty Bell in our schools is the Liberty Bell sparks curiosity among students, which naturally leads to classroom discussions about its historical significance,” Fulkerson said. “While Pennsylvania history is taught at the elementary level, heightened student interest allows instruction to go deeper and become more meaningful and engaging. This visit helped bring history to life and connected learning to student curiosity.”

Lebanon County Coroner Dr. Jeffrey Yocum, who commissioned the artwork from Randy Peiller of Artistry Extreme, said he’s a big fan of America and has “all different kinds of memorabilia relating to the American flag.” When this came up in conversation with the Daughters of the American Revolution, he said he was thinking about doing a Liberty Bell and told them he would have it made, and they could take it around the area leading up to the anniversary.

The bell has only traveled through one full district so far, but Yocum said he’s already heard from patients who have shared their children’s positive experiences.

“They love it,” he said. “They thought it was neat how big and Americana it is, and I think it gets people excited about America and what we’re all about, and so I was really happy with the response.”

Yocum said passing on the country’s history is important to remind people where they came from, what they are, and what they should be in the future.

He said it reminds people what America is all about — “Patriotism and support for your fellow Americans, and helping fellow Americans, and doing everything we can to keep this country strong and free.”

Bonnie Loy, chair of the Lebanon America250PA Committee, provided the following dates that the bell is set to be delivered at the other county districts. She said these are rough estimates and are subject to change.

• ELCO, delivery on Feb. 16
• Palmyra, delivery on March 9
• Annville-Cleona, delivery on March 30
• Northern Lebanon, delivery on April 20
• Lebanon, delivery on May 11