On Nov. 11 at 11 a.m., Seicheprey American Legion Post 2 took part in Bells of Peace. Due to COVID-19 restrictions the ceremony had to be moved outside. In the past, Bells Of Peace started at Bristol Veterans Day Ceremony. Due to the closed hall the veterans ceremony was pre-taped and played on Nutmeg TV three time on Veterans Day. Due to the time of the airing the bell-ringing could not be prerecorded.
The post rang the USS Kidd Ship Bell 21 times. It took place under the post's flagpoles overlooking Riverside Avenue. They stand one block over from Memorial Blvd. Park. As the bell rang people stopped and faced the sound. People from surrounding shops came out to watch. For safety only one person did the ceremony, and a World War II veteran and a friend of the post watched.
The post is named after a battle of World War I. On that day nine soldiers from Bristol, Conn., lost their lives. When the post was named the members could not choose a single name. Thus the post was named after the battle in honor of all nine.
The bell was removed from the ship at the end of the war by a shipmate of the vessel. He painted it gray and hung it outside in his yard from a tree. Every year he would ring the bell in memory of those who served with him. During the war a Japanese plane crashed into the ship, killing a large number of the crew. The vessel was able to made it home for repairs. When the shipmate passed away the bell was donated to Post 2 on the condition it would be rung every year forth. Thus on Bells of Peace and Pearl Harbor Day it rings in memory of all veterans.