Community Connection

Fall 2007
Lady Liberties in the BC 4th of July Parade
By Beth Benjamin

Continuing their annual tradition, Valley Women’s Club members and friends walked the streets of Boulder Creek in the 4th of July parade.  This year, draped in gauzy copper-green, the ladies and little girls held their crowned heads and torches high, while red-suspendered gentlemen passed out copies of Emma Lazarus’ famous sonnet on the Statue of Liberty.

Lin Wapner’s beautiful Lady Liberty costume provided the inspiration (and fabric) to dress the other participants.  Bright torches were constructed by Sheila DeLany and Beth Benjamin. Participants included the entire Wapner family (Lin, Roger and Sarah), Beth Benjamin and Kyla Huxley, Sheila and Jerry De Lany, Susan Archibald, Bobbie Faulk, Nancy Macy, Dale Bruce, Hal Anjo, and young liberties, Bella Hayes and Caitlyn Wade.

Dale Bruce read lines from “The New Colossus” to the cheering onlookers.

Poet Emma Lazarus grew up in a prominent fourth generation Jewish family, one of the oldest in New York City. She was well educated and by age 25 was a published poet and author. She wrote the poem for an arts fundraiser for the construction of the Statue of Liberty (sounds like a VWC event to me!); her words are engraved on the pedestal at the base of the statue. The sentiments ring out ever truly in these challenging times.

The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "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-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Emma Lazarus, 1883

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