Statue of Liberty is symbol of democracy, friendship

A little bit of history. In 1885 the French people gave the United States the Statue of Liberty as a friendship token. It arrived dismantled in 350 individual pieces!

Lady Liberty is made of copper and iron and was assembled on Liberty Island. It was designed by French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Vartholdi, and assisted by Gustaf Eiffel, who later built the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

In today's money the French paid $5.5 million to have it constructed. Today, the Statue of Liberty is considered one of the greatest American Monuments and stands as an international symbol of freedom and democracy.

Another fact about the French is that we probably wouldn't have won the Revolutionary War without the aide of the French. At the time Benjamin Franklin was in France and he negotiated with the French for the French to provide, guns, ammunition, and clothing for the Continental Army.

In addition they sent Layfaette and some French troops. The nail in the coffin for the British, was at Yorktown, Washington had General Cornwallis cornered against the ocean. The French Navy came and cut off any retreat by Cornwallis, so he surrendered.

This info, is probably not taught in schools, but should be.

Roger Gregory is a Vietnam veteran and business owner in Priest River.