Let Freedom Ring-The Freedom Bells App
Bells and chimes have sounded throughout our nation for centuries. Bells on buoys have signaled danger for mariners. Church bells have called worshipers to gather in prayer. Chimes have rung to signal mealtime for ranchers tending herds and mending fences. Students have passed each other in school hallways, all conditioned to move to the sound. Who can forget our nation’s history when the Liberty Bell purportedly chimed with the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in 1776?
Kathleen Ann Winchester, who resides in San Diego, is a dedicated historian, passionate patriot, and volunteer extraordinaire. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW), and Wreaths Across America (WAA), to name a few organizations to which she devotes her time and energy, Kathleen is on a historic mission to celebrate the United States of America.
To say that she is consumed by bells ringing in her head might be a vast understatement. That’s not an insult, either. It’s a tremendous source of pride for Kathleen, and her bell-ringing fixation is about to become a nationwide opportunity for every man, woman, and child to herald the nation’s 250th birthday celebration next year, regardless of where they’re located. “The MOWW has been very supportive,” Kathleen shared. “It’s a work in progress right now. I’m on the national committee with the MOWW for America 250. I wanted to contribute to a big event that everyone can participate in, but not everyone can travel to a central location. Then there are our troops overseas. I got thinking about something that people could do together.”
Kathleen’s thinking about a central time and location to celebrate the nation’s birthday has captured the Semi Quincentennial Commission’s goal for every American to celebrate the nation’s birthday on July 4, 2026. “On the Fourth of July, most people will be with family and friends for lunch somewhere,” Kathleen surmised. “The morning parades will be over, so I thought noontime would be a good time in any time zone.” Ah, ha! The time frame is established for her idea. “Then I thought, everyone is so electronically minded. It’s not just the kids. I have friends in their 90s who have an iPhone or are still using a computer.“
Kathleen’s idea is called Freedom Bells. There’s an app for that, or at least there will soon be one! The MOWW is helping Kathleen develop a free app that people can download on mobile devices or computers. “We have a contract, and everything is in the last stages of development. You can select your bell sound preference on the app, and there will be a countdown to the Fourth of July at Noon in 2026. It’s a capsule in time, so the whole nation will be able to celebrate together. Even the troops overseas will be with their units, and they’ll be able to take little selfies or videos to capture the moment. I’m really excited about this. To me, it’s tying everyone together.”
Just imagine the symphony! Different bells and chimes sound, all going off simultaneously worldwide to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
Kathleen and the MOWW are targeting the Freedom Bells app release for the first of next year.
Thank you, Kathleen Winchester, for your tireless dedication to patriotism and pride in our nation and all your volunteer efforts with Wreaths Across America and other like-minded organizations supporting veterans.
Stay tuned to Wreaths Across America Radio and the Wreaths Across America social media platforms to be informed when the Freedom Bells app will be available.
Teachable Takeaways, like this story with Kathleen, can be heard on Wreaths Radio every Wednesday morning at 7:15 AM ET. Tune in online at: www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/radio
