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Memorial Bell Tolling

Image of the Great Town Hall showing the bell tower
The Great Town Hall

Memorial Bell Tolling

The Town will ring the bell located in the bell tower of the Town Hall the Saturday following the death of one of our dedicated community members at 11:11 AM, allowing for the maximum number of other citizens to hear them and honor our fallen.

We will ring the bell based on the following criteria:

If this person is a veteran who lived in Brimfield up to his or her death as categorized on the death certificate filed with the Brimfield Clerk.

Any employee of the Town of Brimfield who worked for Brimfield for 10 or more years.

Any person who served on elected or appointed Boards for a total of 10 or more years.

Any person who served on the Brimfield Ambulance Service Board, Hitchcock Academy Board for 10 or more years

Any other designated person suggested by the Board of Selectmen.

The Board of Selectmen will work diligently to know about any of these deaths, but if you are aware of anyone who fits these criteria, please write an email or contact the Board of Selectmen or any member of the Board to alert them.

The bell will toll 7 times, starting at 11:11, once every 7 seconds.  The meaning of these tolls are as follows:

Toll One: The Choice to Serve.  This toll represents the person’s willingness to serve the community.

Toll Two: Camaraderie.  The second toll represents the friendships, family, and unity that bond all service members together.

Toll Three: Patriotism.  The third toll represents the person’s pride in their country and/or community.

Toll Four: Respect.  The fourth toll represents the respect given to an active citizen by their community, earned by them and owed by us, for their service.

Toll Five: Dignity.  The fifth toll represents the dignity with which a person’s community treats their fallen hero.

Toll Six: Honor.  The sixth toll represents the honor that is due to a volunteer when they have died, given by their fellow service members and community.

Toll Seven: The Value of Life.  The seventh toll represents the ultimate sacrifice that the person has made. Whether killed in action, or after long years of quiet service, the value of this life cannot be adequately described by words alone.