On 50^th anniversary of Morris Pesin’s Canoe Trip

By Joel Sugarman

On 50^th anniversary of Morris Pesin’s Canoe Trip

Silver Spring, MD

Liberty State Park, a must-see destination

Which this year celebrates 32 years since it first opened its gates to public acclamation

A gift to all the people in the Bicentennial Year of our nation*

Down Morris Pesin Drive to the information center
With the Morris Pesin plaque just inside the door
That explains how this park came to be and more:
The significance of how one man can make a difference.
and how much this park has come to mean
to those who have experienced the refuge of its peaceful greens.
This park is very much alive,
A welcoming haven of green and calm, comfort and safety
From the city traffic and anonymity,
The pollution of people and industry,
From hatred, pogroms, violence and wars
From the fear of terrorism's tragedies
in far away lands and on our own shores
that have led thousands to this park in search of peace.
For 32 years Liberty State Park's wide lawns and shade
have blossomed annually
with the fragrant memories
of family picnics
of dreams of the past and yet to be
of hope that welcomed those who believed
The promises of Lady Liberty
As she welcomed them to these shores.
Looking up from their picnic oasis
The park's visitors see its symbols of hope peace--
The giant statue of the World War II Solider
who probably did appear this large to those he came to free--
Heading home gently carrying a holocaust survivor
Whose left arm dangles lifelessly,
But from a certain perspective seems to be
Reaching toward the flame of Lady Liberty's torch of freedom,
A symbol of hope, perhaps, or a miracle yet to be.
The New York City skyline from the park perspective
Seems to rise so close, so large in every detail
As if it were being viewed through a telescope objective.
The park leads to a wide boardwalk by the Hudson River
On the left below you can see debris of what used to be
and appreciate why what is here now is so much better.
Then on the right is the roped off walkway to a small bridge
Identified simply as an "Employees Only" entrance.
It leads to Ellis Island which you cannot see beyond the fence.
A reminder of how very close this landmark is to New Jersey's shore,
Confirming Morris Pesin's point that "this park is really ours."
At the end of the boardwalk you see the Old Train Station
where new immigrants began their westward journey
from New Jersey to new homes across the nation..
And from this same location
is the dock where visitors today begin another journey
Back into the history of Ellis Island and the Statute of Liberty,
so that they can experience and appreciate
the deeper meanings of what our immigrant ancestors endured
when they passed through these gates of freedom
to find a life of better opportunities then they had ever known
of which we too are their beneficiaries
because of the seeds they have sown.

*Morris Pesin created the idea for the park 50 years ago in 1958 and led an 18-year campaign to make it a reality.  Liberty State Park first opened to the public on June 14, 1976.