Aluminum belltower promotes peace, celebrates veterans at NC Capitol

A Veteran’s Day exhibit that tells the stories of the cost of war.

When the wind blows, you can hear the plaques swinging from the 24-foot tall tower, but it also has hundreds of stories.

Roger Ehrlich is an associate member of veterans for peace – the group behind the tower.

“[It was] made by a Vietnam veteran. There are sad stories about people who just came back,” said Ehrlich. “Everybody affected by war. Everybody, everybody."

People drop by and etch names and messages onto repurposed aluminum cans. There are nearly a thousand of them now – more than can fit on the memorial belltower.

Many of them were placed here by veterans.

"One story will remind me of another story,” said Ehrlich. “They are, many times, moved to tears. They realize they are not alone and that wars have no winners. On all sides, there are costs.”

The belltower was designed after the large, iconic one on NC State’s campus.

“The memorial belltower is actually a World War I peace memorial,” said Ehrlich.

This smaller replica is meant to promote peace.

“To prevent future war, to prevent future trauma," said Ehrlich.

It was built in 2014 and has been displayed in several places – including the nation’s capitol. WRAL News found it at our state capitol building about to be moved again, after standing here for several days – where it has collected more aluminum plaques and more stories.

“This belltower is about healing,” said Ehrlich.