The marker is located on the left as you enter the site, sitting on top of set steps.

Monument

The monument is a large cast bell mounted to a staircase pedestal by an iron frame. The bell is suspended in air by an iron structure and is surrounded by a decorative railing. A local foundry, Campane Marinelli, produced the bell that weighs 1380 kilograms and is 132 m in circumference and was dedicated in May 2008. Each evening at 1700 it rings 30 times to remember the heroes and the dead of each of the 30 belligerent nations that fought in this area. From the pedestal, one has a nice view of Sant’ Angelo Theodice and the Gari (Rapido- the Allies mislabeled the Gari as the Rapido during WW2) river.

The Peace Bell remembers each if the Four Battles of the Gari (Rapido) the first which occurred near this location in January 1944.

Top plaqueon the front of the structure written in Italian:

CASSINO E L’ITALIA CON GRATITUDINE E

DEVOZIONE ONORA I CADUTI PER LA SUA LIBERTA’

GENNAIO 1944 – SANT’ANGELO IN THEODICE CASSINO

The English translation:

CASSINO AND ALL OF ITALY WITH GRATITUDE 

DEVOTION HONOR THE FALLEN FOR HER LIBERTY

JANUARY 1944 - - SANT ANGELO IN THEODICE CASSINO

Bottom Plaque on the front of the structure written in Italian and English. The English version reads:

BELL OF PEACE

OH BELL OF PEACE MELTED TO

HONOR THOSE WHO PERISHED

FOR THE SACRIFICE OF LIBERTY

AND SO THE SACRIFICE OF THOSE WHO

LOST THEIR LIVES REMAINS WITH US

THE MURMUR FROM THE WAVES 

OF THE RIVER GARI HEARD

DURING THE DARK WINTERY NIGHTS

THE WHISTLE OF PROJECTILES AND

EXPLOSIONS OF GRENADES

REMAINS A SONG OF ETERNITY

YOU WERE YOUNG SOLDIERS

IN THE ARMY FULL OF VIGOR

AND HOPE FIGHTING ON ITALIAN SOIL

TO YOU AND ALL HEROES OF A FAR AWAY

LAND. PERISHED AT THE BOTTOM FO

SACRED MOUNTAIN

MUST RECEIVE OUR INFINITE THANKS

THANKS THAT ARE ACCOMPANIED

WITH DEEP SENTIMENTS.

OH BELL OF PEACE

ONLY THE TOLL OF THIS BELL

CAN REACH THE SOULS IN HEAVEN.

LET THEM HEAR OUR DEVOTION

LIKE A MOTHER FOR HER SONS.

SEVERINE DE SANTIS

There are two inscriptions on the bell as well as numerous designs.  The inscription of the front in Italian and English reads:

“The Sun Shines Again”

On the side of the bell, there is an etching of the of the crossing of the Gari (Rapido) and inscription in Italian:

BATTAGLIA DEL GARI

Translation in English:

BATTLE OF THE GARI