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Post by atsda on Jul 3, 2023 19:20:40 GMT
About 5-years ago, my wife and I went to Philadelphia to visit the historic sites. While we were in line at the Liberty Bell (I had a white cane.), someone grabs my upper arm and says “I’m a National Park Service Ranger , you are blind, I’m going to show you the Liberty Bell." The next thing I know, is that I am being summarily pulled across what seemed to be a wide open space. I hear ropes and gates being manipulated, and the next thing I know, the ranger says that I am in front of the Bell. He says, “Let me have your wrist.”; and puts my hand on the Liberty Bell. He shows me the top piece, the inscription and raised features, the lower lip, and then the crack, I was able to follow the crack with my finger, and explore. I don’t know how long I was there - I was stunned. While I was being brought back to my wife, who was waiting in line, I heard a kid ask “How come he gets to do that?” The ranger answered that blind people see by touching. I would say that this ranks as one of my greatest life memories. Alfred
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Post by Adam on Jul 3, 2023 19:26:21 GMT
Wow! What an amazing experience!
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Post by harborbelt70 on Jul 3, 2023 22:09:51 GMT
I can only say "Wow" too. But that was an incredibly kind act and gives me hope for humanity in our otherwise totally fractured world.
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Post by ptc on Jul 3, 2023 22:16:45 GMT
Handled very well be the Park Service. Thanks for this wonderful report, ALFRED.
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Post by david1 on Jul 4, 2023 2:40:42 GMT
That's a wonderful Memory Alfred and a salute to that great park ranger.
Beings I live near Philadelphia and was born and raised in Philadelphia I have seen the Liberty bell numerous times.
Too bad too many people don't even know what it stands for or the history of the liberty bell. Over 45% of the people who live in Philadelphia have never seen it, A stunning statistic!!
Dave
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Post by dennym57 on Jul 4, 2023 5:22:44 GMT
Wow! That was an experience of a life time.
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Post by rtraincollector on Jul 4, 2023 10:30:00 GMT
That was great Alfred, I can remember seeing it once, but not vivid experience seeing I was probably like 6 or7 years old so that is over 60 years ago. I lived in West Chester, PA. at the time about 30 miles from Philadelphia.
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Post by Sir James on Jul 4, 2023 13:21:18 GMT
Years ago, before everything was regulated, we made that same kind of trip. One could walk right up to the bell. Independance Hall was being refurbished at the time so we could see the original framing of the building. A real look at the past.
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Post by curtis on Jul 4, 2023 17:03:43 GMT
Wow. I am amazed! When I was a boy we took a field trip to Phila. Went to the liberty bell back when it was in Independence Hall. To this day I still remember being able to touch it. I remember the guide telling us where we could touch it. A few years later they said no one is allowed to touch it anymore. I remember them talking about and then building the "New" building to house it and seeing it roped off so you couldn't get close. At one time I think it was actually behind glass. I remember being told it was originally The State Bell! I also can remember saying how big the crack was and being explained to that that is actually the repair that was tried. It did not work as there is another crack. It starts around the word Philadelphia I think. Interesting Fact: It is a King James Version Bible verse inscribed on the bell! So many people have not seen it that live close and only a very small amount know the history of why we call it an INDEPENDENCE BELL!
On this great day of Independence I thank God for all of us. I thank those who died for us to give us that Independence and liberty that we take for granted. I thank those who are currently serving along with those that will serve in our military to keep our country truly free.
I am also thankful for small things like this forum and the people in it. I am thankful for the friendships, brotherhood and sisterhood that is formed here.
May God continue to Bless this Country of the USA
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Post by Adam on Jul 4, 2023 22:36:55 GMT
I recall when I was a small boy, maybe 4 or 5, we were able to climb to the torch of the Statue of Liberty. Seems like many of these things we could do way back when is no longer allowed.
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Post by firewood on Jul 4, 2023 23:06:21 GMT
What a great experience for you, Alfred!
Dave
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Post by atsda on Jul 7, 2023 0:53:57 GMT
Dave, That is a unfortunate statistic about Philadelphians not visiting the Liberty Bell. It is also an international symbol of freedom. It was by chance on that day and at that time, there was a
Ranger who was assigned to show the bell to disabled. (On the walk back to the line, he mentioned that he had special training, and was not there all the time.) )
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Post by atsda on Jul 7, 2023 0:54:54 GMT
Adam. Sadly, important American symbols are not so easy to access. Alfred
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Post by atsda on Jul 7, 2023 0:55:33 GMT
Curtis, Thank you for sharing your heart-felt thoughts. Alfred
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