This Wonderful Country of Ours!

Growing up I can remember hearing my Father say over and over again, "We are so lucky to live in The United States." When I was very young I didn't understand why he kept repeating himself but as I grew up I came to know that the country in which he was born allowed none of the privileges that I took for granted. Listening to him extol the virtues of this country taught me to love it just the way he did. And several years back, when Lee Iacocca was raising funds for the Ellis Island Wall of Immigrants, I took the opportunity to place my Father's name on it. Somehow, though he had long been gone, I knew that he knew and I knew that he would be so proud to have his name on that Wall of Honor. I have done considerable traveling and there are times when I say that I would love to live in Paris or London or wherever, but the truth is, I would never give up living here. The collection that follows is a tribute to "This Wonderful Country of Ours".

Footnote to History 1. In 1792 a competition was held throughout the 13 states to find a design for this building. A West Indian man, who had resided in Philadelphia for several years, won the competition. William Thornton, the winner, had no architectural background at all but he did have strong feelings about how the seat of our new nation should appear for posterity. The cornerstone was laid by George Washington in 1793. The building was actually not completed for 30 years but the North Wing was completed in 1800 and The Congress has convened there ever since. Thomas Jefferson influenced the design with the use of the Dome and the Rotunda. James Hoban, the architect for the White House, supervised the construction of the building.

Footnote to History 2. Our Capitol was originally named District of Columbia in honor of Christopher Columbus, but shortly after George Washington died, the Congress elected to rename the city in his honor, hence Washington, D.C.

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A1. The Statue of Liberty Box. I have been looking for this box for several years now. I wanted it to be a faithful replica of "The Lady" and I have seen so many of these, one worse than the other, all junked up with flowers and flags and all sorts of things that simply do not relate to the statue. I have seen her many times and never has she carried flowers or flags or anything but her torch and tablet. She stands on a stone plinth just as she does here and since she has stood that way for so many years I see no reason for anyone to change any part of her now. She cannot be improved upon. She is a world famous symbol of Liberty and an inspiration to all who see her. Retail: Upwards of $155.00. Our price: $139.90.

Did you know: She stands 305 feet tall; her tablet carries the adoption date of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776; her beacon was considered a lighthouse for many years because it was a navigational aid into New York harbor. She was designed by the French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi and assembled over a framework designed by Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, of Eiffel Tower fame, and Eugene-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc. She was presented to us in 1885 by the people of France who alone raised the money for her, and she was dedicated in 1886. On her base is the famous poem by Emma Lazarus which was written to help raise funds for her base. Are these words familiar?

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B. The Constitution of The United States Box. Did you know that our constitution is the oldest written national constitution in operation? Did you know that it is not our first constitution? The Articles of Confederation predated it and it was only after it was seen that The Articles of Confederation did not give the essential powers to the national government necessary to the running of the country that the new constitution was written. The strength of the document is such that since 1788, when it was ratified by the ninth state, it has been in continuous use. Inside the original 13 star flag representing the thirteen original states, the clasp, an eagle. Retail: Upwards of $185.00. Our price: $166.90.

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