The Statue of Liberty, Celebrating the Enduring Bond Between France and the United States

Bonjour from Paris!

The bond between France and the United States is a beacon of warmth in my heart, rivaling the joy sparked by life’s simplest pleasures. The Franco-American connection holds a special place in my heart. This profound alliance, seasoned with both triumphs and trials, has been a cornerstone of history from the American War of Independence, with Lafayette’s & Rochambeau’s critical roles, to the solidarity of WWII and beyond.

As someone born in France, married to an American, and a citizen of both countries, I often find myself drawn towards the Statue of Liberty. Not because of her Classical beauty or as a monumental gift from France to America, but because she symbolizes a shared heritage, crafted in one of the world’s most beautiful nations and standing proudly in another that has offered me so much, including a deeper appreciation for my French roots. She embodies the artistic spirit of France and stands as a symbol of hope in the U.S., teaching me to cherish my French heritage even more.

You might mistake the scenery in these photos for Liberty Island, but in fact, they capture a lesser-known yet equally symbolic statue located on the Île aux Cygnes in Paris. This replica was a heartfelt gift from French expatriates in America to France in 1889, three years after the original graced Liberty Island. Though not facing her larger sister, I love to imagine her gazing across the Atlantic, a silent sentinel of the deep ties between these two countries I hold dear.

Leaving the island and traveling west you’ll find yourself on the Pont Mirabeau, where you can take in both the statue and the Eiffel Tower as they share the horizon, their iconic silhouettes highlighting each other’s presence.