ON LIBERTY: This Day in History

On June 17, 1885, The Statue of Liberty arrived, disassembled,  in the New York Harbour - shipped in 200 crates.  She was given to us by France to commemorate the French-American alliance during our Revolutionary War.  

But most of us think of her as America's official greeter to immigrants seeking freedom and economic prosperity.

Photo complements of Creative Commons

Chuck and I were in Germany recently where a replica of "Lady Liberty" also greeted us just outside Berlin's main train station. 

Just a few blocks away from this statue is a street named Strasse des 17 Juni.

It commemoratees this day in 1953 when a pivotal event took place in eastern Germany (which had been granted to Russia in the wake of WWII).  East Germany wasn't recovering economically after World War II as West Germany was.  The people were fed up! On June 16 construction workers took to the streets to protest the socialist government imposed on them after the war

One day later, Soviet tanks squelched the anti-government rebellion.  About 20 people died and 100 were injured.  For several decades fear and intimidation ruled in communist East Germany. However by the 1980s the people began to find their voice again and took to the streets in large peaceful protests.  Their efforts resulted in the reunification of the two Germany's.

Today, on Strasse des 17 Juni stands another "statue of liberty" - this one known as The Caller. 

The inscription on the pedestal reads  "I pace through the world and call peace, peace, peace."

I love how she stands on the Western side of the Brandenburg Door calling to citizens in the East.

The Brandenburg Door is Germany's defining symbol.

Brandenburg Door as seen from the east.

Sadly, during communist years it was mostly inaccessible to both German nations. Happily, one can now walk through from both sides. 

Strasse des 17 Juni becomes Unter der Linden (under the Linden trees) as west meets east on this side of the magnificent gate.