One of the things our family did on vacation last week was to fulfill a delayed promise to my then first grader. After studying about the Statue of Liberty in school we promised to take her there to see it in person. Hurricane Sandy threw a monkey wrench in the works, however. When we did get to New York the spring before we moved to Georgia, Liberty and Ellis Islands were still closed for repairs. This summer, since we were heading up to Vermont we decided to stop in New Jersey along the way. After an overnight in Newark, we made the short trip to the Liberty State Park and managed to be first in line on the first ferry to Ellis Island.
While we did not get to go all the way up to the crown – we would have needed to reserve tickets six months in advance – we were able to get up into the pedestal of the Statue. We enjoyed the museum in the base of the statue as well, particularly the reproduction copper face and foot of Lady Liberty. As is often the case, I relearned things I learned a long time ago and had forgotten in the meantime. Like the fact that Gustave Eiffel, before building the Eiffel tower, designed the internal supports for the Statue of Liberty. Or that, at the time, the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty was the largest pouring of concrete in the world.
At one point while we toured Ellis Island, the site of Immigration processing for decades at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries, one of my daughters wanted to know what Ellis Island had to do with the Statue of Liberty. In once sense, they two had little in common; the statue was placed in New York Harbor because it was the place so many immigrants and travelers to the United States came through. When the location for processing immigrants needed to be moved to accommodate growing numbers, the first receiving building was built on Ellis Island. Even before Ellis Island, however, immigrants came to see the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of their new hoped-for life in the land of liberty and democracy. I explained this as best I could; The Statue of Liberty became symbolic as a welcoming sight to those who wanted and needed a better life. While it is an American symbol, to say the least, it certainly has a historic meaning that extends beyond purely American understanding.
Just like facts and figures about the Statue of Liberty, we can easily forget such things about symbols and histories. I learned, or re-learned that nearly one third of Americans have descendants who came through Ellis Island, right past the Statue of Liberty, as immigrants to this country. Although immigrant is a dirty word to many folks these days, the history of our country would be quite different without our history of open arms. That one third of America with roots passing through Ellis Island is just a fraction of our immigration history. Immigration was booming before Ellis Island, and certainly continued afterwards. Some of the names in the log books of Ellis Island are well know to us too: Isaac Asimov, Irving Berlin, Frank Capra, Bob Hope, Cary Grant, Al Jolson, Reuben and Rose Mattus (if you don’t know them, you likely know their products: Haagen Dazs Ice Cream), Knute Rockne, Rudy Valentino, and Henny Youngman.
I’m not suggesting that we don’t need laws regarding immigration, or that we should take everyone who wants to come into the United States, so settle down if you started to get your hackles up. But, traveling to the Statue of Liberty did remind me that outsiders aren’t always bad, and aren’t always bad for a nation. This has been true for many, MANY generations. This is why hospitality to “aliens” and foreigners in your own lands is an important mandate from God to God’s people in the Old Testament. It’s a healthy reminder as we pray our way through the newspaper headlines from time to time.
Our visit also reminded me that I am proud to be a part of this nation and that I often take my citizenship for granted. I am glad that my ancestors came to this country, some through Canada and then into New York, and others through who knows where – perhaps Ellis Island (I have family roots in England, France, and Germany…at least). I hope that we are living up to the dream they had for their new lives and the life of this nation as it grew and matured. Lady Liberty still means something to us about liberty, freedom, new starts, opportunity, and reminds us to be a beacon to the world (something related was once said about lamps on lampstands and not under bushel baskets). May she always stand tall and proud, and may we be worthy of her.
Tom+
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, who art of an infinite majesty and mercy, by whose counsel and might the courses of the worlds are wisely ordained and irresistibly established, yet who takest thought of the children of men, and to whom our homage in all our works is justly due: We bless and praise thee for the knowledge and understanding which Thou bestowest upon man, and for the spirit of constancy and courage born within him of Thy inspiration. We glorify Thee for the command which Thou dost give him over treasures of the mine and the strength of the hills, that he may make them the ministers of lessons of gracious significance; and we humbly and gratefully recognize Thy presence in all which he achieves of beauty and power. The mind to devise, and the will to accomplish, both are of Thee. From Thee cometh the artificer’s skill; and to Thee the patience of faithful workmen, in whatever dexterous labor of the hands, equally renders laud and praise.
It is in Thy favor, and through the operation of the Gospel of Thy grace, that cities stand in quiet prosperity; that peaceful commerce covers the seas; that peoples and nations separated by oceans are not severed in spirit, but continue allied, in common desire and in mutual regard, with happy recollections and happier hopes. It is in the benign appointment of Thy will that Liberty and Light, attending each other, advance always to a surer supremacy, amid the manifold tumult of the world, and that the time comes constantly nearer when the earth shall rest in righteousness and peace.
We give Thee thanks and praise this day for the lofty memorial here set up of the kindly affection of one great people for another; for the sympathies which prompted, and the skill which has wrought it, and for all which it signifies of remembrance and of promise. We pray that Thou who enablest man to mold the metal and make lightnings his servants, wilt accept the dedication of this monument to Thee; and that here it may abide, undisturbed by tempest, its munition of rocks not shaken by earthquake, while waters encircle it, and the light of the morning returns to great it.
We pray that the Liberty which it represents may continue to enlighten with beneficent instruction, and to bless with majestic and wide benediction, the nations which have part in this work of renown; that it may stand a symbol of perpetual concord between them; and that walking in the paths of knowledge and freedom they may constantly advance in the wisdom of their councils, in magnanimous enterprise, and in the noble and salutary arts which are cherished by peace.
We pray for those who bear office in these nations; that ruling in Thy faith and fear they may partake of the fullness of Thy favor; that in all things personal, prosperity may attend them; and that whatsoever in public affairs they do or design may be so guided and furthered in Thy providence that what before has been beautiful and fruitful in the history of these nations, while joyfully remembered, shall be also continually surpassed.
We pray for all the nations of the earth; that in equity and charity their sure foundations may be established; that in piety and wisdom they may find a true welfare, in obedience to Thee, glory and praise; and that, in all the enlargements of their power, they may be ever the joyful servants of Him to whose holy dominion and kingdom shall be no end.
Finally, be pleased, we humbly beseech Thee, to grant Thy blessing unto the cities, with the multitudes of their households, before which arises this monument of peace; and unto us, from different lands and of various tongues, who are here gathered; that all our doings, being moved by Thy spirit and submitted to Thy governance, may be crowned with Thy favor; and that, having walked in gladness and faithfulness in the light which Thou givest, through nature and art and man’s device, and most of all through the Word of Thy truth, we may come in Thy grace to the perfect light and the glorious liberty of the Heavenly estate.
We offer all praises, and seek all blessings, with contrite confession of our sins and shortcomings, in the Name of Him who loved us and sought us, and who Himself hath taught us to pray saying:
Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy Kingdom come; Thy Will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever and ever, Amen.
Prayer by the Rec. Richard S. Storr, Inauguration of the Statue of Liberty.