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Welcome July, a hot and steamy month that celebrates the Independence of the United States.
In 1876 at the centennial, the Statue of Liberty was gifted to the USA from France. Conceived as an emblem of the friendship between the people of France and the U.S. and a sign of their mutual desire for liberty, it was also meant to celebrate the abolition of slavery.
A tablet in her left hand is inscribed with the date of the United States Declaration of Independence, while a broken shackle and chains at her feet represent liberty breaking the chains of bondage, or slavery in the United States.
Over the years the Statue has become much more.
It is recognized around the world as the universal symbol
of freedom, liberty and progress.
The statue’s proximity to Ellis Island, and its visibility for ships and boats coming ashore, made it a powerful, welcoming symbol for immigrants entering the United States.
The words from Emma Lazarus’s poem, The New Colossus, were famously etched into a plaque at the base of the statue in 1903, including the words:
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.”
It became recognized as a symbol of America’s rich multicultural history, founded by people from around the world. She greets millions of immigrants, embodying hope and opportunity for those seeking
a better life in America. It represents the United States itself.
Enjoy this festive month following Junteenth, the other Independence Day, and truly have gratitude for the privilege, opportunity, rights and freedom in this great country to which we are so lucky to belong. Freedom and justice for all....
with an abundance of gratitude, Angela
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