From Marshall University to San Antonio: A Bell Honors Navy Veterans

Bells have long held significance in our world. From the urgent ring of a fire alarm to the beautiful sounds of a handbell and even the call of the good old lunch bell, their sounds are distinctive and often emotional. For hundreds of U.S. Navy sailors, the sound of a ship’s bell is forever tied to their military careers.

That connection between service, history and tradition is being celebrated in October 2026 at a special reunion in San Antonio, Texas, where a piece of naval history will take center stage. The bell from the USS John Marshall, a nuclear-powered submarine named for the fourth chief justice of the United States, will be on display for veterans and their families attending the gathering. The bell, which has been housed at Marshall University since the submarine’s end of service, connects the university to the sailors who served aboard the vessel.

The USS John Marshall was in use from 1962 to 1992 with two alternating crews, based out of Guam and Hawaii. Following its decommission, the submarine’s bell was officially transferred to Marshall University in 1994 for permanent display.

Roger Barker, a member of the USS John Marshall Reunion Planning Committee and a Kenova resident, said the connection between the two entities is strong.

“We appreciate the efforts of President Brad D. Smith who supported this mission,” Roger said. “He’s a real patriot and is truly committed to veterans.”

Roger said President Smith’s commitment was reflected not only through the assistance of the university to loan the bell, but also through the Smith family’s Wing to Wing Foundation, which lent its support to this year’s reunion.

But Marshall and the Wing to Wing Foundation aren’t the only organizations involved in this cross-country trek for the bell. The U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, which manages artifacts from ships and other naval vessels, signed off on the bell’s loan and the American Legion, local police departments and community organizations are all involved in its transport and care while in Texas.

“The bell will be in an acrylic box where we can keep it safe and see it,” Roger said.

Roger says about 80 former crew members are attending this year’s reunion, which he says is about preserving the history of the boat, honoring those who served, remembering those who have passed and making sure future generations understood the commitment and sacrifice of those who served.

The bell will be returned to Marshall University following the reunion.