First Ring: Bell at Children's National Hospital

Join us to hear a new bell at a very special place! The bell, cast in brass and engraved with the familiar bear logo, will be sounded when patients reach significant milestones in their treatment and recovery.

A hospital stay can be taxing on anyone, but especially for children and teens. After the uncertainty of a diagnosis, the strain of a rigorous treatment program, and the exhaustion of a stay away from home, it can be a great relief to close such a difficult chapter. The ringing of a bell is a celebration of this accomplishment.

A patient’s bell ringing ceremony is often public, including the patient's family, friends, the staff who cared for them, and other patients undergoing similar treatment. After what can be a scary and uncomfortable time, the bell represents joy, relief, accomplishment, and support. Often, a simple, inspirational poem is recited to accompany the bell ringing.

The National Bell Festival is proud to recognize moments to cheer, large and small, with the commission and installation of this new bell at Children’s National, together with a roving heart-shaped stand to meet patients no matter where they are across the hospital complex.

Here’s to keeping kids happy and healthy!

This event forms part of the annual National Bell Festival. Learn more and see the complete line-up of free events and experiences at: Bells.org/Events

Notice of Photography: Photography and filming taking place at this event may incidentally capture your image. By accessing our events, guests grant the The National Bell Festival, Inc. permission to utilize their image, appearance, and statements in audio, video, or photographic form without further authorization or compensation.

Rehabilitation & Specialized Care is a children's specialty program in Washington, D.C., that services children from infancy through age 21. The specialized department within the Children’s National Hospital system provides easy access to a range of family-centered medical and therapy services to meet children’s needs.

The center also provides care for children who are leaving a traditional hospital and aren’t quite ready to be cared for at home. Rehabilitation & Specialized Care is the only pediatric program in the national capital area dedicated exclusively to providing rehabilitation and transitional care for children and adolescents.

Host or Publisher National Bell Festival