Normandy bell will go to Bush's library The Liberty Bell copy will be rung Monday for the first time in the U.S. at Independence Hall.

By Stephan Salisbury INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Posted: July 02, 2005

The Normandy Liberty Bell, a virtually exact copy of the famous original cast in France, will be given to the future presidential library of George W. Bush, officials said yesterday.

Rung in France to commemorate last year's 60th anniversary of D-Day, the Normandy bell is now in Philadelphia and will be rung for the first time in the United States on Monday as part of the Let Freedom Ring celebration at Independence Hall, said a spokeswoman for the festivities, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution.

The gift will be officially announced at the ceremony.

Because it was created through use of a special laser scanning technique, the Normandy bell is said to be an almost identical replica of the original bell, sans crack.

The tone of the replica is believed to be indistinguishable from what the orginal Liberty Bell sounded like the last time it rang - at the 1846 celebration of Washington's birthday.

The Normandy bell is owned by the Normandy Liberty Bell Club and has been residing in France.

Acting Secretary of the Air Force Muchael Dominguez will accept the bell on behalf of the President, officials said.

Contact staff writer Stephan Salisbury at 215-854-5594 or ssalisbury@phillynews.com.

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