[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 104 (Monday, July 13, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1735]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SALUTING THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, AND THE WINNERS OF THE DEAR LADY 
                         LIBERTY ESSAY CONTEST

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ANTHONY D. WEINER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 13, 2009

  Mr. WEINER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the accomplishments of 
five young people who demonstrate the best of our Nation's values. This 
not only includes understanding what it means to be a patriotic 
American, but also understanding what it means to keep a connection 
with your parents, your grandparents and your great grandparents.
  I want to thank these exceptional New Yorkers for taking the time to 
submit their essays and for understanding what it means to celebrate 
our country and to celebrate the Statue of Liberty. As the first public 
visitors to walk up the steps to the crown the Statue of Liberty since 
September 11th, 2001, I asked these young essayists to try and remember 
the millions of new Americans that came by that beautiful Lady and what 
it meant for them.
  The Statue of Liberty is more than just a tourist site, it is 
something that connects us with our immigrant tradition. It is one of 
those symbols that unify us as Americans. We often are drawn to 
focusing on our weaknesses, our foibles and our conflicts, but it's 
good every so often to take a deep breath and remember some of the 
things that we have to be grateful for. These students and the dozens 
like them that submitted essays to the Daily News are to be celebrated 
for taking the time to help us remember why America is great.
  I would also like to express my gratitude to the Daily News for 
keeping the reopening of the crown of the Statue of Liberty on the 
front page and hammering away in 23 editorials when the Statue of 
Liberty was closed. You know, as with any campaign, it is not one 
person banging a drum, it is our whole community. And the Daily News 
jumped in there when it was time to figure out how to raise money to 
reopen the Statue of Liberty, and then when it became clear that the 
National Park Service was doing worse than dragging their feet, but 
refusing to open it, the Daily News wouldn't let up. And every time, 
whether it was passing an amendment or having hearings, every time I 
ran up this hill in Washington, I knew I had the Daily News behind me. 
And I think every one else knew--they were either going to be on that 
Daily News bandwagon, or under it.
  When the Statue of Liberty was closed after the tragic events of 9/
11, it symbolized Americans coming to terms with new threats, but while 
every other national monument reopened, the crown remained closed. With 
the reopening of the Crown on July 4, we were able to once again show 
our appreciation for the diversity that has always been the foundation 
of our Nation's strength.
  To recognize these young patriots I submit the following essays.

     Dear Lady Liberty,
       The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are both very 
     important in U.S. history because they both changed the lives 
     of many people in and out of the U.S.A. Ellis Island gave 
     great opportunities and hope to people in other countries.
       If Ellis Island was never created, then the dreamers (from 
     other countries) who wanted so desperately to come to America 
     and be an American, wouldn't have had their dreams come true. 
     In addition, without Ellis Island, America wouldn't have 
     experienced new cultures, new food and of course new 
     religions.
       Personally, to me Lady Liberty expresses the freedom of our 
     beautiful country. With her hand up in the air, holding that 
     torch, she shows that we have won the battle for our freedom! 
     As you can see, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty will 
     always be an important part of American history.
     Mona Platt.
                                  ____

     Dear Lady Liberty,
       My name is Anthony Guarino, I am 8 years old. I live in 
     Brooklyn, New York, and I am proud of the Statue of Liberty 
     and Ellis Island.
       The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are important to me 
     because it represents the most important thing that makes our 
     country great and it is ``Freedom.'' The Statue of Liberty is 
     a symbol that all dreams are possible. Ellis Island is 
     important to me because it was a welcoming place for all 
     people wanting the American dream.
       Thanks to Ellis Island, my great-grandparents were able to 
     come from Italy by boat, with one thing in mind: an 
     opportunity to improve their children's lives and the lives 
     of their future grandchildren. My great-grandparents' dream 
     of coming to Ellis Island gave me opportunities that many 
     people can only dream of.
       I am thankful to France because the Statue of Liberty was 
     their gift of friendship to us. I am thankful to the Statue 
     of Liberty because she gave this friendship back to many 
     other people from different countries all over the world.
       I will always be proud when I look at the Statue of Liberty 
     and remember, because of her, I am a proud American.
     Anthony Guarino.
                                  ____

     Dear Lady Liberty,
       I first saw you in the pictures my mom sent me, when I was 
     in the Philippines, three years ago. You looked marvelous! 
     Now when I visit you and see you, I am so proud because I 
     feel that you are my friend.
       To me, you are a remembrance of freedom, justice and 
     friendship. You remind me of the Philippine and American 
     history, when the U.S. returned full leadership to the 
     Filipino people. You remind me of a respectful friendship and 
     intense bonding when my great-grandfather was fighting side 
     by side with the American soldiers during World War II.
       You and Ellis Island have a soft spot in my heart. As an 
     immigrant, Ellis Island symbolizes the main gate of liberty 
     and hope. It reminds me of my family's struggle, courage and 
     determination to leave my country and find a future here in 
     the U.S.
       Lady Liberty, I feel so proud watching you, being near you 
     and being a part of history. Continue to inspire.
       God Bless the USA!
     Nica Garana.
                                  ____

     Dear Lady Liberty,
       The Statue of Liberty is important to me because I know it 
     is the first thing that my great-grandmother saw when she 
     came to this country. She was only 12 years old, my exact 
     age, and she was fleeing Poland, a country where she was 
     being persecuted.
       Poland was not a friendly country for the Jews, like my 
     great-grandmother. She constantly had to worry about being 
     beaten up by policemen for no reason. There were often 
     ``pogroms,'' which were when the people of the town decided 
     to invade the Jewish areas and ransack the homes and kill 
     Jews for no reason as well. The Jews lived in constant fear 
     of being attacked, robbed or killed just because they were 
     Jewish.
       My great-grandmother wanted to live in a country and raise 
     her children in a place where there was freedom and no fear. 
     She knew she could walk the streets here with a clear head 
     and a hope for opportunity. When my great-grandmother looked 
     at Lady Liberty, she saw a beautiful woman who held out her 
     arm to welcome her and tell her that her children, her 
     grandchildren and great-grandchildren would live freely and 
     thrive here. So when my great-grandmother saw Lady Liberty 
     and smiled at her, I am sure she felt the statue smiling back 
     at her for more reasons than one.
     Allan Marcus.
                                  ____

     Dear Lady Liberty,
       The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, home to New York 
     Harbor, hold much importance to me.
       I know that millions of people, including my own ancestors 
     from Ireland and Italy who arrived by boat in the late 1800s 
     and early 1900s, made their first stop in this country right 
     on Ellis Island. For all those newcomers, the sight of that 
     beautiful, tall, green statue signified the end of their 
     long, grueling journey and, at the same time, the beginning 
     of a new and opportunistic life here in America.
       But for me personally, each time I see that statue, whether 
     I'm crossing the Verrazano Bridge or riding to Manhattan on a 
     ferry, the Lady in the Harbor makes me feel like I'm home, 
     and home here in New York surely is the greatest place to be; 
     how lucky I am.
     Juliet Sullivan.

                          ____________________