Statue of Liberty

Author John T. Cunningham wrote that "The Statue of Liberty was not conceived and sculpted as a symbol of immigration, but it quickly became so as immigrant ships passed under the statue. However, it was Lazarus' poem that permanently stamped on Miss Liberty the role of unofficial greeter of incoming immigrants"

Poem by Emma Lazarus, 1883:

Referring to the ancient statue on the Greek island of Rhodes,

Emma Lazarus speaks of “The New Colossus”:

The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

And from the Prophet Nephi in the Book of Mormon:
Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; … but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.” (2 Ne. 1:7.)

~~~~~~~~~~

And so, as the "Nieuw Amsterdam" sailed into New York Harbor on April 1950, carrying among others the Van Os Family, we all gathered on deck to see this great symbol - but the fog was so dense that we couldn't make it out.

Ever since then, for more than 58 years, it has been my wish to see Lady Liberty. And for my Christmas present last December, Trixie gave me a plane ticket to New York.

On Monday, October 27, 2008, Trixie, Adam, and I met Ralph and Stacy (who live in Herndon, Virginia) at Liberty Park. From there we took the ferry that took us on a 360 degree tour around the statue. The weather was beautiful and clear.

We ferried all around the Statue and took a gazillion pictures, of course. After the ferry ride we walked to the RR station. I remember that our luggage was taken from the “Nieuw Amsterdam” and stored in the Railroad Station. It took us awhile to find our luggage, because we were looking under the “O” for “van Os”, when it was actually stored under “V”. I had called the Greyhound station from the ship before we docked and asked them to have a bus ready for our group – I think there were about 30 of us going to Salt Lake City. The bus ride took 72 hours, stopping only occasionally for 10 minute breaks, and once a day for 30 min. After that I swore I would never get on another Greyhound Bus again.

Ralph, Adam, and Trixie climbed the stairs inside the Statue.

I declined, I'm not as young as I used to be.

Liberty Park is a good place to get a look at the NY skyline.

And I finally got my wish – this was a very special day for me.

~~~~~~~~~~