Bill and I found this Beautiful Bell Tower while in Bodega Bay.  I didn’t post this while we were in Bodega Bay as my Dear friend Lisa and her beautiful daughter Mariah were on their way to Italy and I didn’t want them worry about this story.

We ran by it each morning along a path towards the ocean.  When we would approach the area there was a stillness in the air – we wondered what the bells symbolized and it wasn’t until our last day there that we walked towards the bells to see if there was a story we could read.

The memorial is dedicated to children everywhere.  It was inspired by the death of seven year old Nicholas Green of Bodega Bay, who was shot by highway robbers in Italy on September 29, 1994.

All the bells were donated, mostly by families, schools and churches in Italy to express their sorry and appreciation for the decision of Nicholas’ parents Maggie and Reg Green, to donate his organs to seven Italians.  They symbolize the continuity of life.

The centrepiece is from the Marinelli Foundry, which has been making bells for the papacy for a thousand years.  This bell, which has on it the names of Nicholas and the seven recipients , was blessed by Pope John Paul II.

The memorial was designed and built by Bruce Hasson of San Francisco.