Today second graders from Leeds Elementary School 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 Jefferson 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 >
- Posing for their Selfie with Libby!
- Silas & Sully 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!
- Emma & Brayden help Libby show off her real measurements.
- Her finger is 8 feet long or about the size of an entire car!
- There are 25 windows in her crown, from which you can see the beautiful view of the New York Harbor.
- The chains around her feet are broken to symbolize our freedom from oppression.
- Libby exclaims that on October 28, 1886, America had a huge celebration to welcome her home!
- Auguste Bartholdi was an artist, a sculptor, and in 1865, more than 20 years before my big birthday celebration, he had an idea. An idea to give a gift to the United States of America
- Ellis Island is right next to Liberty Island, which is where Libby lives.
- Libby shares Martin Luther King, Jr’s hope that Americans will be judged “not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
- “The New Colossus” is engraved on Libby’s pedestal.
- Libby and Mr. Palmer are excited to share with the students about the Hands on Liberty program!
- Super Citizens help Libby lead everyone in our tour anthem.
- The students filled the room with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
- Libby and her leaders sing together for freedom!
- We love seeing the students excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- Singing along to our tour anthem!
- Libby loves having Super Citizens singing along to her tour anthem!
- “Freedom! Liberty! It starts with you and me!”
- These students are singing our tour anthem loud and proud!
- These students are singing our tour anthem loud and proud!
- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
- theirWaving their flags in song and celebration!
- Libby’s helpers do a great job showing everyone the moves to “YOU in the USA!”
- U.S.A.!
- The Next Great Americans of Leeds Elementary!
- Leeds Elementary 2nd grade students are excited to pose with Libby Liberty™!
- These Leeds Elementary School 2nd grade students are destined for greatness as they start their Super Citizen journey!
- We had a blast today with these Leeds Elementary School 2nd grade students!
- These great citizens are about to start their Super Citizen journey.
- Libby had a blast today with these students from Leeds Elementary School 2nd grades!
- Libby gets a picture with these amazing students after the kickoff.
- These students are excited to meet Libby Liberty!


































