Friday, March 21, 2014

Sephia Saturday 220 - Monument Men?

Yes, it's that time of the week again. When we all go to our dusty shoeboxes and search for something relevant to the theme. Or at least as close to relevant as we can.

I once again return to that cold November crossing of the North Atlantic of 1956.
And again we return to the deck of the Queen Elizabeth.
And again. . . my brother.
I, at the young age of 18 months, was not proving, I guess, to be very photogenic.

But the photo does have a great monument to all immigrants to this great land.

My dad and brother, 1956, with that great lady in the back ground.

Curious pattern on the back of the other young mans coat.






























































Sepia Saturday 220


34 comments:

  1. What an icon photo you have. Nice post! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sometimes we have to be reminded how important some of our symbols are.
    Thanks for stopping by.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like the hat too, and you're wearing one of those coats that are longer than your short trousers. Are you sure you're only 18 months old? You look older than that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. May dad was holding my brother who would have been almost four.
      I love the hat. A friend of my parents made the coat for my brother.

      Delete
  4. I forget, sometimes, just how important the Statue of Liberty is; thanks for the gentle reminder!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I never did ask what it meant to him. I will have to ask my mother, who I would imagine was just glad at that moment not to be sea-sick anymore.

      Delete
  5. On my first visit to New York City, I saw the Statue of Liberty. I'm not a very emotional person, but the symbolism and stories of the immigrant experience rushed over me when I saw her in the harbor.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sometimes we forget, since we don't travel that way any more, how many people she greeted.

      Delete
  6. The photographs of and including the Statue of Liberty as seen by your parents made me stop and imagine what it would have meant to them after crossing 2500 miles of ocean to begin a new life in a new country and seeing her there to greet them. As you say, sometimes we need to be reminded of the importance of the symbols we tend to take for granted.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very curious pattern on the back of that man's coat. I'm almost wondering if he's meant to put patches on it. You know how we used to collect and sew patches or badges on our clothes (well I didn't but you could if you wanted to) of places we had been. They used to sell them in tourist shops....just a thought.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yea, not sure what that is all about, but it is curious.

      Delete
  8. What a wonderful photo on the deck of the Queen Elizabeth. A true Gem.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I was thinking of doing a Statue of Liberty post this week, but opted for something else instead, so it's nice to see someone has featured her.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Would love to have seen what you would have come up with.

      Delete
    2. I had a series of images already collected, but they cam wait for another opportunity.

      Delete
    3. You have us interested now.

      Delete
  10. I was anticipating someone would show the Statue of Liberty this week. I could not have foreseen ii in a family snap like this. Photos to cherish.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do indeed cherish it.
      Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  11. Your title reminded me that I want to see the "Monuments Men" movie.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The personal touch really makes this post most noteworthy...I'm awestruck not only with the statue but with the Queen Elizabeth...both have historic significance...and you and your family are part of the history of both.

    ReplyDelete
  13. She is a grand gal. I've only seen her from a distance in New York, but I did see the one in Paris much closer. I guess she's the little sister.

    ReplyDelete
  14. It is difficult to imagine how your parents felt at this time (I assume that your mother is taking the photos). A wonderful photo to have.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As the story goes; "We were only coming over for a few years to help moms sister. . . . ."

      That was 56 years ago.

      I don't think they had the same perspective as people not expecting to return to their birth homes. But I am sure it was still very profound. Gradually a visit became a life time.

      Delete
  15. Great that you have a photograph of your family's first point of arrival in the USA aboard the Queen Elizabeth. I've seen the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island ferry but it didn't stop there, and at the time in 2005 the crown of the statue was still closed to the public following the 9/11 attacks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish I remembered the boat ride.
      But alas. . . .
      Did go back and see the Lady in 1972 while in high school.

      Delete
  16. A great photo of a tender moment indeed, and yes his coat does have a curious design on it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Both times I've been to New York has coincided with scaffolding all over the Statue of Liberty, so I am yet to see it properly.
    An excuse for another trip perhaps?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do you ever really need an excuse to travel?

      Delete