As a young adult out of college, I visited New York City and the Statue of Liberty. In preparation for my visit, I read the history of the statue. Designed by France, she was given as a gift to the United States to commemorate the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence.

However, upon seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time, not only was her size impressive, but I actually became acutely aware that not everyone in the world enjoys the freedoms that we have. At that moment, Lady Liberty became the very personification of the liberty and freedom that we experience in America. My head knowledge of her became heart knowledge, and this “Gift of Liberty” became very dear to me, never to be taken for granted again.