Museum bell sounds at 11 a.m. in honor of Veterans Day

News of the end of World War I arrived in Carson Valley via telegraph when Station Agent H.A. Meder received a flash that Germany had signed the armistice and fighting would cease at 11.

It was a Monday, and Meder telephoned the news to several people, who were frankly afraid that the news was too good to be true.

That first Armistice Day was a silent celebration due to the influenza outbreak that had claimed several Valley residents.

“The siren was not sounded for fear of exciting the sick,” Record-Courier owner Bert Selkirk said on the front page of the Nov. 15 edition. “The people here took the signing in a more serious way. People smiled through their tears of gladness and supreme joy.”

At 11 a.m. Thursday, Douglas County Historical Society members sounded the bell in front of the old Douglas County High School in Gardnerville.

Retired U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Guy Proto had the honor of ringing the bell after Historical Society President Emeritus Dennis Little said a few words.

“This marks the beginning of the end of World War I, it was a very special day,” Little said. “We have many veterans with us. We’d like to thank all the veterans of all the wars and the active service men and women who have sacrificed so much in serving our country.”