Today second graders from Pike Road Elementary cheered and counted down to the grand entrance of Libby Liberty™. Wearing green paper crowns and waving tiny American flags, they showed their enthusiasm for the Super Citizen Program they’ll begin after today’s theatrical performance.
Liberty Learning Foundation (with generous sponsorship by The Montgomery County Community Alliance) is kicking off the program in a big way. Not only are students watching as the vivacious Statue of Liberty character brings history to life, they are also being introduced to the man who will give them a “hand” with lessons back in their classrooms. As Libby winds down, she hands the screen over to Mr. Palmer, a brash and brilliant hand-character who leads students in lessons in civics, character, financial literacy and our Great American Story.
After class photos with Libby, students and teachers return to classrooms energized to learn crucial, all-American lessons. They’ll also begin the process of nominating and honoring “Helping Hands Heroes” who they will honor at their graduation celebration when the program is complete for this year.
Were you at the event? See the photo gallery below to find yourself, to revisit the magic or watch it unfold for the first time >
- These students are excited to arrive at the Hands on Liberty Kickoff!
- Excited to meet Libby!
- Waving their flags with excitement as they arrive at their Hands on Liberty Kickoff!
- Pike Road Elementary students gathered today to meet Libby Liberty™!
- Ready to Kick Off Their Hands on Liberty Program!
- Ethan and Nyla lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Libby Liberty™ makes her entrance to reveal her true name: “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
- Libby’s mouth is 3 feet long, about the length of an electric guitar!
- Libby’s nose is about the height of the average 5th grader, or Harry Potter?!
- Her finger is 8 feet long or about the size of an entire car!
- From the ground to the top of her torch she is about the length of a football field!
- She isn’t green like Shrek, she turned patina through a process called oxidation.
- When Libby was originally built, she was a shiny copper color just like a brand-new penny!
- Libby’s torch is what lights the way to freedom.
- Do you know what’s written on Libby’s tablet? Here’s a hint: It’s the date of American Independence!
- Mr. Eiffel designed her skeleton, just like he designed the Eiffel Tower!
- In the workshop, the artists worked on all the different parts of Libby!
- Auguste Bartholdi gifted Libby to the United States of America to celebrate our 100th birthday!
- In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr.: we are “judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
- We all have different American stories.
- Libby shares the iconic poem “The New Colossus.”
- “I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” –Emma Lazarus
- Libby shares all about the exciting Super Citizen Program the students are about to begin!
- Libby’s helpers do a great job showing everyone the moves to “YOU in the USA!”
- The students filled the room with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
- Waving their flags in song and celebration!
- U.S.A.!
- Singing along to our tour anthem!
- “Freedom! Liberty! It starts with you and me!”
- These students are singing our tour anthem loud and proud!
- Libby loves getting the students excited to sing her tour anthem!
- We are so thankful to Jennifer Bradley of the Town of Pike Road; Jennifer Grace Arnold of the Pike Road Town Council; and Cyndal Whiten, Principal of Pike Road Elementary, for showing up for Pike Road students and supporting opportunities that help them learn, grow, and become the Next Great Americans!
- The Next Great Americans of Pike Road Elementary!
- Pike Road Elementary students are excited to begin their Hands on Liberty journey!
- These amazing Pike Road Elementary students are ready for an exciting Hands on Liberty adventure!
- Libby Liberty™ loved meeting the students of Pike Road Elementary!
- Nothing but smiles from these amazing Pike Road Elementary students!
- The Hands on Liberty journey is off to a great start at Pike Road Elementary!
- Libby Liberty™ poses with these awesome Pike Road Elementary students after the kickoff!
- These incredible students are ready to learn and grow throughout their Hands on Liberty journey!
- Libby had a blast visiting with these amazing Pike Road Elementary students!
- Big smiles and lots of excitement from these amazing Pike Road Elementary students!
- The Official Libby Liberty™ Selfie!










































