Resolution introduced to celebrate Statue of Liberty’s anniversary and message

Rep. Hy Kloc, D-Boise, got an enthusiastic reaction from the House State Affairs Committee for his resolution, co-sponsored by Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Boise, to celebrate the 130 ^th anniversary of the unveiling of the Statue of Liberty. Kloc distributed a copy of a ship’s manifest from Oct. 29, 1949, on which the first four names are his parents, his brother and himself, coming to America. He said, “I have the strange memory of pulling into New York harbor in my mother’s arms, and my mother would point to the Statue of Liberty and say, ‘America,” Kloc told the committee. “That may be a memory because they talked about it so much in the home. But I do remember some things that happened on the boat. … They weren’t real great.”

“There are two symbols that represent America, the flag which we all pledge to every day, and the Statue of Liberty which is known around the world,” Kloc said. “But sometimes we need a little reminder how lucky we are to be living in this great country. So on behalf of the Kloc family and millions of others that came to America, including some of the ancestors of the committee members that came through Ellis Island, I just hope you can join me in passing this resolution that says to the world that we Idahoans believe that the United States is for all men and women and national origins who have united in allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and to the imperishable ideals of our free society.”

Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, said with a chuckle, “I don’t think there’s any doubt that this has support.” Rep. Ken Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs, said, “I don’t know of anyone that has had the experience themselves coming through as a non-citizen to the Statue of Liberty, and I think that this is a great thing to do.” The committee voted unanimously to introduce the resolution, clearing the way for a full hearing on it.