Ashley's+Speech

The Statue of Liberty By: Ashley Starkey

Close your eyes and think. When I say the words Statue of Liberty, what do you picture? Some green-colored lady in a dress holding a torch and trying to look like Miss America wearing her crown? But what would you say if I told you that she symbolizes your country and is a bond of friendship between the U.S. and France? Bet you are thinking differently now, huh?

Actually, I was thinking the same thing about her before I found out how much history and meaning was put into the Statue of Liberty.

Yes, the Statue of Liberty is some big green lady, but there's more to her than that! She has 2 names, the Statue of Liberty and Liberty Enlighting the World. The Statue of Liberty was scuplted by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi during the American Revolution. The Statue of Liberty was actually scuplted in France, broken down into 350 pieces, and shipped to the United States in 214 crates. She stands tall and proud on 12 acres of Liberty Island, placed right next to Ellis Island. This copper-sheeted lady is 305 feet, 1 inch tall from the bottom of her pedestal to the tip of her torch, and actually the copper sheeting that forms her is only 3/32nds of an inch thick! That is equivalent to 2 pennies put together. Actually, the Statue of Liberty is held together by her steel framework inside, designed by Alexander Gustave Eiffel, who also designed the Eiffel Tower.

Why did the French decide to make this gigantic statue for the United States? During the American Revolution, the French were alone without any allies to support them. Then, they saw our country as an opportunity and decided to present a gift as an offering to be friends. We then accepted and became allies.

The Statue of Liberty has been in our country for 122 years, and over those years the beautiful orange-copper color weathered to a teal-green color, which is how we picture her in our heads today. She is dressed in a flowing robe, a crown, and a torch, but do you know what each piece means? Her robe represents how we Americans are living in our country, freely. Her crown has seven rays for the 7 continents and 7 seas of the world. In the left hand, she holds a tablet on which is written the day American Independence was granted to us, July 4, 1776. Her torch represents a light guiding our way to freedom and showing our path to liberty. This is where the original name, Liberty Enlighting the World, was represented. The torch was replaced a few times with oil lamps for lighting, then to lightbulbs, then to the last model, a copper flame with a gold leaf coating for protection.

I saved the part I found most intriguing for last; her posture. Her right foot is raised and her left foot is next to shackles. Why? Her right foot is held up, moving forward. Liberty and Freedom will never be at a stand-still, just moving forward. Her left foot is trampling the shackles, meaning the U.S. wish of being free of oppression and tyranny.

The Statue of Liberty represents American Pride and will stand tall, moving forward, welcoming anyone into the New York Harbor. That is why I chose the Statue of Liberty as my National Landmark.

What do you think of her now?