Did you know that, in 1950, President Harry Truman issued a replica of the Historic Liberty Bell to each state? As part of this project, he wished to begin a tradition where each state would ring its bell to commemorate important people and events. One such important date is the upcoming celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. While West Virginia’s Liberty Bell sits on the grounds of our State Capitol in Charleston, we, here in Marlinton, plan to participate in this tradition by ringing our bells at noon on Monday, January 21. And we won’t stop there, in coordination with many valued volunteers, Pocahontas County Opera House Foundation, High Rocks Educational Corporation, and Preservation Alliance of West Virgnina, we have planned a full day of education and celebration to honor the life and work of Dr. King. Join us on Monday for activities that reflect his commitment to peace, justice and inclusion. Stop by the Heritage Room at McClintic Library to peruse information on local history and bring the kids for a read aloud and a craft between 10 a.m. and noon. Beginning at 11 a.m., the Opera House will display interactive collections for all ages featuring student contributions. They will also offer a community lunch of soup and bread at 12:30 p.m. followed by walking tours of Marlinton at 1:30. Cynthia Guererri will host an art activity for youth at 2:30 p.m., and we’ll wrap up the day with soup and bread again from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Opera House. Please plan to join us at some point throughout the day and help us make this a tradition for Marlinton, a small town doing big things.
![](https://pocahontastimes.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2018/07/Join-community-PT.jpg")
