Last Monday was Flag Day, and it’s a good time to be thinking about our national symbols. The Rotary Club placed flying American flags all over Forney; at Flower Basket we got the good old bunting out for a show; and our Lady Liberty, who welcomes travelers in from Dallas under our three flags, is soon to be joined by another “little sister” to The New Colossus of Ellis Island.
As a symbol of the centuries-long friendship between the US and France, a replica of the original plaster model that was enlarged to the final statue--a sixteen-times increase in size, the ten foot statue will travel to Ellis Island to celebrate the Fourth of July and then to Washington DC for Bastile Day, where it will remain for a decade.
Lady Liberty has been welcoming people to our country since her dedication in 1886--she actually originally used her torch as a lighthouse for ships coming into the harbor. The symbolism embedded in her design reminds us of the important parts of America. She holds in her hand a tabula with July 4, 1776 written in Roman numerals. Broken shackles around her feet commemorate the abolition of slavery in the US- -Libertas, the Roman god she is based on, was especially celebrated by emancipated slaves. And Emma Lazarus’s poem famously calls her Mother of Exiles, who holds open the golden door of the country.
Here at the Foundation we have adopted a torch as our symbol because we know that enlightenment and liberty work hand in hand. Please join with us at forneyisdfoundation. org and help us light the way to freedom for our students.
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