Time:     11:00 AM

Where:   Grapevine Vintage Railroad Station

              709 South Main Street, Grapevine, Tx.

               (Directly East of the Main Depot & Museum)

Who:     Proclaim Liberty—Belladier

              Century Trucks & Vans

              Crow Family–Army Sgt. William Crow

Proclaim Liberty invites the media, friends, patriots, families to attend the dedication of a customized GMC truck given by Century Trucks and Vans christening it the Sgt. William Crow.  David Hall, the Belladier, will be presented the keys to a specially customized GMC truck by the Adams Family, owners of Century Trucks and Vans, in true patriotic fashion.  The truck will be christened the Sgt. William Crow, in honor of one of the hundreds of Fallen Heroes that the Liberty Bell has and will toll for. Army Sgt. William Crow sustained fatal wounds on June 28, 2007, at the age of 28, when his vehicle struck an IED while on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq.  Sgt. William Crows Family will attend this dedication ceremony.

Century Trucks and Vans has partnered with Proclaim Liberty to help the Belladier continue tolling the nation’s only working, traveling, exact replica Liberty Bell to honor our military, & first responders–those who give their all for country and protect our freedom. Patriot Guard Riders, American Legion & Sons of the American Revolution will participate in this dedication christening ceremony. You will never forget the Sound of Liberty.

Contacts:

Proclaim Liberty                   Daniel Adams,Century             Lisa McCowan, GVRR

817-915-7179(Mobile)           469-446-0608 (Mobile)         817-504-0079 (Mobile)

bell@proclaimliberty.us       dadams@centurytrucks.com   Train Station

Century invites media to attend an all-American celebration as a customized GMC truck is given to David Hall, proud citizen and Belladier of the nation’s only working, replica Liberty Bell.  A Tarrant County man who has made it his mission to travel the nation tolling the Liberty Bell in ancient fashion for festivals, celebrations, and funerals to honor fallen America’s Heroes, including military service men and women, fire, police, and rescue personnel, will be presented the keys to a specially customized GMC truck in pure patriotic fashion.  In a ceremony following the key presentation, Mr. Hall will have the truck dedicated to honor Sgt. William Crow Jr., one of hundreds of fallen heroes that the Liberty Bell has, and will toll for. Sgt. Crow sustained fatal wounds on June 28, 2007, at the age of 28, when his vehicle struck an IED while on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq. Sgt. Crow’s family and friends will attend the dedication ceremony.

WHEN: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2008 – 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: Grapevine Vintage Railroad Station,709 South Main Street, Grapevine, TX76051

Directly East of the Main Depot and Museum. Platform will be reserved for media.

WHO:

The Adams Family, Century Trucks & Vans
David Hall & Family,  Belladier
Crow Family, Sgt. William W. Crow Jr., family and friends

###

Contacts:

Daniel Adams, For Century         Phyllis Hall                                Lisa McCowan, GVRR
469-446-0608 (Mobile)              817-915-7179 (Mobile)            817-504-0079 (Mobile)
dadams@centurytrucks.com      bell@proclaimliberty.us          lmccowan@ci.grapevine.tx.us

On June 27, 2007 when GMR-Works first offered to provide me a new 2008 GMC one ton dually truck to replace my 1997 Chevy one ton dually I rejoiced. The Chevy had pulled the Liberty Bell for almost 300,000 miles honoring our troops and first responders. The Liberty Bell uniquely represents those American values of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Police and Firemen who fight to defend, “Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness.” When their sacrifice is given to defend our values it is only fitting that the Liberty Bell be there to honor those commitments of our freedom.

On July 27, 2007 a GM team of over 10 management staff greeted us at GM headquarters on John Carpenter Freeway and rang the Liberty Bell while many other GM employees viewed the spotless black “97” Chevy show truck with gooseneck hitch and display on the trailer for the first time.  Our meeting concluded after two hours. Prior to coming to that meeting I picked up the “97” truck from a front end alignment shop and something went wrong on my way there. When Rick Beets, a GM executive, asked me upon closing our meeting,” Is there anything I can do for you today.” I told him about my truck front end alignment issue. Rick called and arranged an immediate appointment at Classic Chevrolet that Friday afternoon. When I went to pay my bill at Classic I found Mr. Beets had paid the first $100.00 down. Kurt Ward, Classic Chevrolet’s Service Dept. manager found unseen damage to the truck that made it impossible to drive safely. Kurt said he could fix the problem, but that the truck would not be ready before Monday. This issue created a dilemma. On Saturday morning the Liberty Bell had to be in Glen Rose, TX. for the funeral of Cpl. Rhett Butler, a soldier killed in Iraq. The Service team at Classic Chevrolet did not let the fallen soldier’s family down. Within one hour, a chauffeured Corvette arrived out front where I was helping customers ring the Liberty Bell. I was whisked away to Ken Thompson’s office and he thanked me for honoring our troops, and asked me if I would accept one of his trucks to fill in until my truck was repaired.  C. W. Higgins escorted me to the truck lot to select a gooseneck hitch equipped truck to pull the Liberty Bell for the next few days. Ken Thompson had the keys ready and we drove to the

GMR-Works sent me GMC’s first contract proposal on September 17, 2007 offering to give Proclaim Liberty a truck outright with no strings attached. Included in the proposal is the phrase “You can put any hitch in it you like.” However, in conversations later we were encouraged by GM to accept the use of a new truck every year. Proclaim

On September 9, 2008 Jon H. Bustetter, Assistant Regional Marketing Manager, GMC Division of General Motors Corporation, Detroit Michigan with Corporate Offices at 225 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 1100, Irving, Texas, 75062 sent Proclaim Liberty a registered letter requiring the Liberty Bell Display be pulled by a bumper hitch equipped truck only or they would be required to vacate the promotional contract.  For the last three months GMC’s contract has been running without a GMC truck able to perform their duty due to this hitch issue. GMC at this time is able to supply a truck to pull with a bumper hitch only. GMC is unable to provide a truck to pull a gooseneck trailer.

Proclaim Liberty appreciates GMC’s continuing desire to honor our troops, but feels as GMC cannot provide a truck to tow the Liberty Bell display safely as required by Proclaim Liberty we must concur with GMC in cancelling the contract so we can move forward in our quest to find a truck that can satisfy our mechanical and transportation needs. It is our opinion GMC deserves credit for trying.

 We have been pulling the Bell for 15 years with a gooseneck hitch connection on every truck we have used. We find the gooseneck connections larger, stronger, and more reliable than a bumper hitch. They stay cleaner in the center of the bed of the truck where they can easily be seen at all times through the back window. The Liberty Bell stands 11 feet tall creating a high center of gravity and benefits greatly from the higher mounted hitch in counteracting the normal pitch and sway of traveling. The gooseneck hitch greatly reduces driver fatigue, steering fluctuations, bucking and bottoming out due to road conditions. If the driver is required to swerve to avoid a road hazard he can do so without any loss of control with a gooseneck hitch. The Liberty Bell display and trailer weight is 7,000 lbs.  With the gooseneck hitch, 2,000 lbs. of the weight is transferred from the trailer to the truck on a hitch ball located one foot in front of the truck’s rear axle. This provides a constant weight placement exactly where the truck cargo is designed to be carried.  On a bumper pull hitch connection the hitch ball is located out of view down near the road five feet behind the rear axle.  On a bumper pull hitch every dip in the road is a weight shift, and a steering adjustment. 

The 2003 GMC truck currently being used to pull the Liberty Bell Display has been donated by Century Trucks and Vans of Grand Prairie.  Owners Daniel and Shaun Adams are Patriots who have supported the Bell for years, and will be replacing the current GMC brand truck with a truck brand which has the backing of its representatives for this duty until a “permanent Liberty Bell Truck” can be found.  

The trucks that I have always purchased to pull the Liberty Bell have been GM. I still have the 1976 Chevy gooseneck equipped truck in our garage that we first used to honor our countrymen.  Perhaps we will go look up the keys.  Seriously, if this were a hobby the “76” would be running. This is not a hobby.  This is a sacred duty we have been given.  We must do our best for our troops as they do for us. Their families and communities depend upon us for their concluding honor.  We can be five hours early to toll the Liberty Bell, and prepare to play “Taps”, but we cannot be five minutes late.  The truck selected for this honor must always be the best available for the sacred duty it will perform is like that of no other, healing the wounds of war.

Sincerely,     Liberty For All                                           

The Belladier,    David Hall

September 22, 1008

Here’s the letter that Proclaim Liberty received from GM.

MEDIA NOTICE:

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the press event with the Liberty Bell Replica and GMC, that was previously scheduled for this Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at Grapevine Vintage Railroad, has been postponed.  We will notify you when the event is rescheduled.

Thank you for your interest in this event and we look forward to speaking with you soon.

Warmest Regards,

Brandi

Brandi K. Webster
Regional Public Relations Manager

Event details; 

May 3, 2008 at 2 pm

Victory Assembly of God

7101 Airport Freeway Richland Hills, Texas 76118

I am excited to report that the Bell was only out of service for 19 days, we are back to 100% operational capacity with a temporary trailer and a borrowed truck.  The quick restoration was thanks to several local companies, support from partner organizations and some wonderful individuals.

• Dalworth Fabrication in Grand Prairie helped us store our rig after the accident; they fixed the frame the Bell sits on, as well as helped with the reconstruction of the Bell

• Century Trucks in Grand Prairie has helped us for many years and once again they have showed their support for our mission by loaning us a truck until ours can be replaced.  Thank you to Daniel Adams and his family.

• The Sons of the American Revolution have once again placed themselves on the front lines in defending Liberty by raising monies to help in the repair of the Liberty Bell.

• The Patriot Guard Riders have continued to show their dedication to our common mission of honoring those who place themselves in harm’s way for our freedom and liberty.

•  Bob Northcraft, Sons of the American Revolution Honor Guard, has been our Patriot in raising monies for the Liberty Bell repair. 

• Thanks to Steven Z. of the American Legion for being David’s right arm for the past two weeks in getting the Liberty Bell ready to travel, and for escorting the Belladier to several events over the past two weeks.

Also, a special thank you to all the Gold Star Families who have sent cards, letters, said prayers, and phoned David.  He holds each family in his heart. Your families are a part of the Liberty Bell each time it tolls.  The sound of Liberty never forgets.

So far the Bell and Belladier have attended over 5 events within the past two weeks!

The Bell was in Waco, TX April 19 at an event honoring 3,000 troops and their families from the Big Red One Division 1st infantry, 3rd ID and the 1st Cavalry 4th ID from Fort Hood.  The Bell has honored two service men been in one parade and even made an appearance at a school.

Thank you for your support!

 This is a Picture of our temporary trailer and the newly restored Bell!

I would like say a special thank you to the Patriot Guard and the American Legion; we would not have been able to get the Bell in shape so quickly without the support of your outstanding members.

Above -> David and Caleb start to inspect and clean the Bell.

Above -> Starting to disassemble the Bell

Above -> David continues to meticulousy check the Bell for damage

Above -> Jonathon works on the new bearing replacements, thanks agian to Purvis Bearings.

Above -> Preparing to remove the Yoke from the Bell.

Above -> Working to adjust the bearing pins

Above -> Removing the Yoke

Above -> David works to repair some of the yoke damage

Above -> A rare site, the top view of the Bell without the yoke

Above -> Caleb works on the support frame for the Bell

Above -> Working on the clapper

Above -> Another rare site, the yoke and various parts

Above -> The Bell has been reassmbled and about to be mounted back on the frame

Above -> Finally mounted once again

Above -> The clapper is being reinstalled

Above -> David rings the Bell for the first time since the accident

Above -> The Bell has been restored, we are now focusing on a trailer and truck.

We have several events scheduled very soon, and are dedicated to makeing sure the Bell is ready and able.

Thanks again for your support!

As promised here is an assessment of the Bell and the trailer; 

Bell Damage;

• Mounting Bearings were destroyed

• Minor wooden yoke damage

• Yoke u-bolts have shifted

• Yoke steel bearing mount shifted .5 inch

• Bell display frame is bent

Current Bell Status

• We have ordered the bearing mounts; they are currently on there way to us.  Thanks to Purvis Bearing for donating the mounts.

• The yoke damage is minor and repairs will begin asap.

• The Bell display frame is being repaired and will be ready to proudly hold the

  Bell soon.

Trailer Damage;

• The trailer was damaged beyond repair

Current trailer Status

• We are currently looking for replacement trailers now that will meet the requirements for the

  Bell display.

We are still working to get the Bell display back together; I will try and update the site with our progress soon.

Thank you for the calls, emails and blog posts; it means a great deal to David and family.  We have been asked about an address to send cards and letters; I will post a P.O. Box on the site soon.

Aaron Hall