FIRST ARTICLE IN SERIES
The Statue of Liberty, standing tall and proud in New York Harbor, like a welcome mat for the “tired and huddled masses,” represents a symbol for freedom. It was the vision and work of two men from France: Laboulaye, and Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. One of these men, a young handsome Alsatian, was the sculptor who created the Statue of Liberty. And the story of their lives and their work in its creation is a fascinating one.
Refered to as a one-woman welcoming committee, Miss Liberty stands on a granite pedestal that is 89 feet tall, rests on a foundation 65 feet high and the overall height of the Statue of Liberty, from its base of foundation to her torch, is 305 feet, plus one inch. About the height of a 30 story building.
Holding a tablet, like Moses, which is 23 feet 7 inches long, 13 feet 7 inches wide and 2 feet thick, in Roman numerals it is emblazoned, July 4th, 1776.
The head of Miss Liberty is 10 feet wide and measures 17 feet 3 inches from chin to top.
Her right arm is 42 feet long, measuring 12 feet around its greatest thickness.
Miss Liberty weighs 225 tons, consisting of 100 tons of copper sheathing and 125 tons of steel framework.
Her crown has 25 windows. Forty people can stand within it at once. Her mouth is one yard wide. Her waist measures 35 feet.
God said:” Let there be Light,” and Divine lightning burned the Ten Commandments for living in the stone tablets of Moses. And the Statue of Liberty shines forth as a light seen around the world, symbolizing the light of Freedom around the world today.
The story of the men inspired to create the Statue of Liberty is a fascinating story of Divine inspiration and determination, overcoming so many obstacles to create and place it in the New York Harbor.
This Statue symbolizes the culmination of the struggles of thousands of determined men and women who fought and died, to form a new nation of Freedom for individuals. A symbol of the courage of men and women, who abandoned their country, relatives, language, to struggle through stormy ocean waters, to reach the shores of America, arriving sick and tired, in a new land to start from scratch, without money, influence nor knowledge of life in a new wilderness country.
Out of this dream and determination, with a “root, hog, or die” mindset, in a few years carved out a lifestyle of plenty, which became the envy of the world. Never before in the history of mankind, had so much been accomplished as a result of Freedom. As a result of taking on self-responsibility and self-control of their individual lives.
Here we are today, living a life they paved the way for, with a rude awakening to the fact we have squandered our inheritance of personal Freedom and private property Rights. Living in an era among people at war with its government. And the government at war and crossends purposes with the Will of the people. Gathering in Tea Parties seeking answers and action to re-claim.
Continued in second article.
LET FREEDOM RING
JUST ME
AC
EMAIL: annecleveland@bellsouth.net
