Statue of Liberty Dedication Day | JOY for Today

(Updated 11.28.2023)

She welcomes immigrants coming to our shore and serves to remind us of the freedom we've obtained. I ask: are you spreading that hope? Are you living in that freedom? When we learn to, we discover profound JOY.

JOY for Today Offerings:

• Did You Know... Two we didn't.
• Wolfe Stew Connects Musings from the Mrs.
• Bible Verses and Quotes Inspired by the Statue of Liberty and freedom.
• Activity Suggestions Art, history, discussion, and family challenge.

Did You Know:

1. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France? Originally named Liberty Enlightening the World, the statue was the dream child of Edouard de Laboulaye and was sculpted by Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi. It simultaneously memorializes the centennial of our independence and abolition of slavery. (StatueofLiberty.org)
2. Fundraisers in both France and the United States paid for the statue? France gathered money from public fees, entertainment, and a lottery, while the U.S. relied mostly on entertainment events and public recognition. (StatueofLiberty.org)
3. Alexandre Gustave Eiffel collaborated on the project? Before building his eponymous tower, Eiffel assisted with solving structural design issues of Lady Liberty. (StatueofLiberty.org)
4. It was transported across the ocean in pieces? 350 individual pieces, to be exact. Then, once unloaded from the boat, they were stowed on Bedloe's Island until the pedestal was completed nearly a year later.  (StatueofLiberty.org)
5. "The New Colossus" poem was added 17 years after its dedication? The poem added new meaning to Lady Liberty. To many people around the world, she stands for independence from tyranny, freedom from slavery, and now hope in starting anew. (StatueofLiberty.org)

We'd Love to Know:

Which fact you already knew?

Wolfe Stew Connects

Lady Liberty. I have never seen her in person, have you? She symbolizes important national ideals: freedom and hope. We commonly believe that your life is your own, you have the freedom to live it how you choose, and we welcome you to join us as we celebrate united diversity. It is our foundation. 

But how challenging, this goal of being united but unique; of having contrasting opinions while still moving forward as one. This conflict has been a struggle since the beginning of our country. We have always suffered from differences of opinion and are still learning how to move forward unified. Sadly, in many ways, it feels like the gap is widening not narrowing.

To remain free, to maintain the ideals that founded our country, we must remember what we were freed from and resist falling under the chains of tyranny again.

The Bible tells a similar story, one of our chains being released coupled with a warning to never again return to our bondage (Galatians 5:1). 

To help us remember what God has done, the Bible details several memorials. The most common memorial still observed today is communion. This memorial reminds us that through Christ's victory over sin and death, we are free. We are free from the law that bound us to death and now have hope in eternal life because of Our Risen Savior (Romans 8:1-2). What we must resist believing is that we can get to God by our own works (Ephesians 2:8-9). It's not about how good we are, but about what He's done.

Now, when you glimpse Lady Liberty or participate in communion, choose to remember you are free and there is always hope. 

If you struggle to remember the source of our hope, join us for our GROWTH focus next week. Each day we will undergo short, but impactful, Bible based exercises to train us in remembering what God has done. Let's live together in praise to Our Living Hope, Warrior!

We'd Love to Know:

Which word resonates with you today: freedom or hope?

Bible Verses and Quotes 

Bible Verses

• "For the poor will not cease to be among you in the land; therefore I am commanding you, saying, 'You shall willingly open your hand to your brother, to your needy and to your poor that are in your land.'" Deuteronomy 15:11 LEB
• "The king will answer them, 'I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant [they seemed], you did for me.'" - Matthew 25:40 GW
• "For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup you are retelling the message of the Lord's death, that he has died for you. Do this until he comes again." I Corinthians 11:26 TLB
• "For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don't submit again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1 CSB
• "However, now that you have been freed from sin and bound to the service of God, the benefit you receive is sanctification, and the end is eternal life." - Romans 6:22 NCB

Quotes

• "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-tossed, to me: / I lift my lamp beside the golden door." - Emma Lazarus
• "It's not enough for the torch of liberty to be held up high only by one woman, every human must hold the torch up high in every corner of the world." - Abhiji Naskar
• "The most powerful visual in America today is actually the Statue of Liberty." - Frank Luntz
• "Its magnificence was indescribable, and its magnitude was inconceivable. She felt overwhelmed the presence of its greatness." - Mona Rodriguez
• "Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better." - Albert Camus

We'd Love to Know:

Which verse or quote would you pair with an image of the Statue of Liberty?

 

Activity Suggestions

Discover this Lady's fascinating history through a book, video, or lesson. Then, start a discussion with the help of our "Would You Rather" questions or family challenge. 

Our Nephew's Suggestion:

Make a Statue of Liberty sculpture or picture.

If you seek assistance with accomplishing this task, check out:

• "How to Draw the Statue of Liberty" YouTube video by Art for Kids Hub
• "Activities for Kids to Build a Statue of Liberty" eHow article by Kelly Sundstrom

Our Suggestions: 

Learn the History

• PreK-2nd Let Liberty Rise! How America's Schoolchildren Helped Save the Statue of Liberty by Chana Stiefel; Illustrated by Chuck Groenink. Links to Celebrate Picture Books' review. 
• READING LEVELS: Wolfe Stew recommends reading it aloud with PreK-3rd and  independently 4th and up; AR - 4.7 or end of 4th Grade; Amazon Reviews - 6-8 years or 1st-3rd grade; 
• OVERVIEW: France built the statue, but we were responsible for the pedestal. America's rich didn't contribute, but John Pulitzer inspired people to donate no matter how much they had. The book shares stories of schoolchildren who donated. Additional resources, timeline, and information at the back of the book.
• 3rd-5th 
• The History of the Statue of Liberty by Liberty Treehouse on YouTube (Construction, symbolism, and alterations)
• Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers, illustrated by Shawn Harris. 
• READING LEVELS: Wolfe Stew recommends reading it aloud to 2nd and 3rd graders and independently beginning in 4th. Some content requires more abstract thinking. AR - 4.5 (middle of 4th Grade), Lexile Level - Interest level of 5-8 years with a Reading Level of NC800L (end of 4th to beginning of 5th); Amazon Reviews - 5-9 years or Kindergarten to 3rd
• OVERVIEW: Approachable informational text coupled with engaging illustrations relate facts you probably know alongside some you likely don't, but also asks you to consider why Lady Liberty's right foot is in motion. 
• 6th-8th The Statue of Liberty: Bringing "The New Colossus" to America by EDSITEment! (Lesson plans that explore symbolism, collaboration, historical document and literary analysis, immigration, and persuasive writing.)

Discuss "Would You Rather...?" Questions. Download my current work-in-progress for daily holiday themed Would You Rather questions that will eventually include three questions for each September, October, and November day.  I will continue updating it on OneDrive as I work toward completing it. Would you rather...

• Visit the Statue of Liberty or the Liberty Bell?
• Have a statue made of you, or a library named after you?
• Sculpt a statue or fundraise for its pedestal? 

Family Challenge 

Discuss what freedom means. Does it mean you can do whatever you want? Does it come with responsibility? Create a family definition of freedom and remind each other to live in freedom!

 

We'd Love to Know:

How you commemorate Lady Liberty?

We’re excited to share one more day with you and wish you JOY for Today and HOPE for Tomorrow. Come back next week for...Halloween!

Fighting the Good Fight with You,

Find even more JOY for Today in our monthly calendars, holiday, and seasonal posts.