Seeing the Statue of Liberty in person for the first time is awe inspiring and fills me with a sense of hope for our great country. The first patriotic song that comes to mind is My Country, ‘Tis of Thee, I recall singing this in Elementary school. Now of course I have this song stuck in my head. :>)
“My country, ’tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrims’ pride, From ev’ry mountainside Let freedom ring!
My native country, thee, Land of the noble free, Thy name I love; I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills; My heart with rapture thrills, Like that above.
Let music swell the breeze, And ring from all the trees Sweet freedom’s song; Let mortal tongues awake; Let all that breathe partake; Let rocks their silence break, The sound prolong.
Our fathers’ God to Thee, Author of liberty, To Thee we sing. Long may our land be bright, With freedom’s holy light, Protect us by Thy might, Great God our King.”
Beautiful inspiring lyrics written by Samuel Francis Smith in 1831.
While strolling around the museum inside, quite a bit of history is preserved for everyone to enjoy. I spied a poem by Emma Lazarus written in 1883 to raise funds for Statue of Liberty. I couldn’t help but wonder what the Mother of Exiles would think about America today.
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!”
Liberty Island, New York City, NY 10004
That’s good you had a great time on your visit!
Yes, you and Mari were there too. :>)