This banner will soon be on display from the upper arches of the
Chautauqua Lake Pops Allegheny Health Network Floating Stage.
Chautauqua Lake Pops Allegheny Health Network Floating Stage.
July 4th, 2020 .. our Nation's 244th birthday!
The symbolism of the national bird of the United States was so important to the nation's founders that it took six years of debate to reach a decision. Among the candidates was the Golden Eagle, but that had been used by other nations. It also was extremely important to the founders that the national bird be uniquely American to symbolize America's strength, courage and freedom. In 1782, Congress declared the Bald Eagle the national bird of the United States. The term "bald" refers not to lack of feathers, but to the white feathers on the bird's head as derived from the old English word, piebald, which means marked with white.
Photo taken by Cristine Herbst
The Statue of Liberty is a copper sculpture located on the 12-acre Liberty Island in New York City. The statue was a gift to the people of the United States from the citizens of France. The statue is sculpted into a woman wearing a robe and a crown. Above her head, her right hand holds a torch which symbolizes progress. In her left arm, the woman holds a tablet which has Roman inscriptions of July 4, 1776 and represents the law. The statue is a representation of the Roman Goddess, Libertas.
The Statue of Liberty incorporates many symbolic features including 25 windows in the crown to represent gemstones found on the earth and the heaven's rays shining over the world. The seven rays of the statue's crown represent the seven seas and continents of the world.
Architect Richard Morris Hunt designed the Statue of Liberty's granite pedestal in 1884, donating his fee to help fund the Statue. Financing for the pedestal was completed in France July of 1884 and arrived in New York Harbor June of 1885 onboard the French frigate, Isere.
In transit, the Statue of Liberty was reduced to 350 individual pieces of copper and packed in 214 crates. The ship carrying its precious cargo almost sank in stormy seas during the transport though Lady Liberty made the long journey to America and was reassembled on her new pedestal in just four months' time!
The sculpture was dedicated on October 28, 1886. Grover Cleveland presided over the dedication ceremony with over 700,000 people in attendance. A French flag covered Lady Liberty's face until it was time to unveil her to the world!
In May of 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Lee Iacocca, Chairman of Chrysler Corporation to head up a private sector effort to restore the Statue of Liberty. Fundraising began for the $87 million dollar restoration under a public/private partnership between the National Park Service and the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. To date, it is the most successful public-private partnership in American history.
More than 12 million immigrants were processed to enter the United States through the Ellis Island gateway from 1892 to 1954 with its majestic neighbor, Lady Liberty welcoming them to their new home. From 1900-1914, during the peak years of operation, 5,000 to 10,000 people passed through .. every day!
You can find out if your family came through Ellis Island by searching the passenger list! (www.libertyellisfoundation.org)
The Statue of Liberty officially celebrated her 125th birthday on October 28, 2011. It towers 305 feet over New York Harbor and is one of the most instantly recognizable symbols of America.
The Statue of Liberty stands in Upper New York Harbor and is a universal symbol of freedom. Originally conceived as an emblem of the friendship between the people of France and the United States and a sign of their mutual desire for liberty.
Over the years this statue has become much more.
www.statueoflibertymuseum.org
Happy 4th of July!
Be Safe.
Pat Locke
Maestro Muse
