MOUNT VERNON — The crisp breeze and sunshine created an idyllic setting to dedicate Liberty Plaza on Monday morning.
The Mount Vernon Community Band set the stage, playing songs reflecting America’s heritage. Junior Air Force ROTC from the Knox County Career Center raised the flag.
Liberty Plaza is in American Heritage Park, located at the corner of South Main Street and Columbus Avenue. The park surrounds the historic CA&C Depot, home to Knox County’s Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The plaza is anchored by a 9-foot bronze replica of the Statue of Liberty, which the Ariel Foundation gifted to the city in February 2023.
“This has been a long time coming,” CVB Marketing Manager Olivia Toth said.
Thanking the community band and JROTC for their participation, Toth said, “Mostly, I want to thank Karen Buchwald Wright and the Ariel Foundation. There are a lot of good things that happen in this community behind the scenes and in front of the scenes.
“We thank Karen and her family so much for being an integral part of the celebrations, impact and growth that we see in our community.”
Toth said Liberty Plaza and American Heritage Park sit at the confluence of history, trails, and the downtown.
“It says a lot when people are welcomed into the city, welcomed in the county,” she said. “This is their first, maybe the last stop of their visit. They feel like this is a community that takes care of the things we own and celebrates the things we own.
“So it’s really a point of pride for not only our organization but the city and the county as a whole.”
Past, present and future
In the absence of Mayor Matt Starr, Safety-service Director Tanner Salyers read his comments.
“It is with deep regret that I cannot be here in person to share this momentous occasion with you, but I must say that it is an honor to be with you today in spirit,” Starr wrote.
“As we dedicate Liberty Plaza here at the newly named American Heritage Park, a place that will forever serve as a symbol of freedom and unity in the heart of Mount Vernon, we gather to celebrate the values that have shaped our community and our nation, liberty, justice and opportunity for all.”
The nation dedicated the actual Lady Liberty on Oct. 28, 1886, in New York City. Starr wrote that Mount Vernon would follow her example.
“This plaza will be a constant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who came before us and who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today,” he said. “It’s a place where families will come together, where generations will reflect on the past, and where hope for the future will always have a home.”
Starr also thanked Wright and the Ariel Foundation for their gift and continued support.
“They choose to invest in Mount Vernon, which reflects a growing and caring community,” he wrote.
“As we dedicate this space, let it serve as a beacon of our shared values, a gathering place for our community, and a tribute to the enduring spirit of freedom. May this place also offer us a sense of pride, inner peace and a blessing to our community.”
Liberty Plaza: A symbol of opportunity
Salyers said New York Harbor’s Lady Liberty welcomes generations of Americans looking to start a new life in a country of endless opportunities.
“As you come into Mount Vernon, you’ll see Lady Liberty, our Lady of Mount Vernon, that will welcome people as we are in the Silicon Heartland now,” he said.
“As they come to create a better life for themselves in Mount Vernon, she’ll hold her lamp beside the golden door of opportunity for Mount Vernon. We’re looking forward to that.”
Salyers noted Mount Vernon is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.
“That’s what it’s going to say to the people who come to see this, to see American Heritage Park and to enjoy the Mount Vernon that we love,” he said. “It’s a great representation of our city.”
America 250 Ohio
Knox joins 29 other Ohio counties participating in America 250 Ohio, a countdown to America’s 250th birthday (semi-sesquicentennial) in 2026.
Todd Kleismit, executive director of the America 250 Ohio Commission, saw Lady Liberty in New York Harbor.
“It’s tremendous what it represents and a stunning visualization of what America can and should be. So I’m really proud to see what you’ve done here,” he said.
Kleismit noted that Knox County is named for Henry Knox, the nation’s first war secretary. In addition to Ohio’s ties to the American Revolution, America 250 Ohio will showcase Ohio’s contributions to the nation’s history over the past 250 years.
One project, “Ohio Goes to the Movies,” focuses on Ohio’s contributions to American film documentaries. Knox County resident Steve George will spearhead the project.
George led the Ohio Bicentennial Commission in 2003.
“We’re going to plant some trees and tell the stories of the American Revolutionary War veterans buried in the state. We’re going to focus on travel and tourism, showcase trails around the state, and tell a lot of untold stories,” Kleismit said.
“As I look at Lady Liberty, I know we don’t have to worry about Mount Vernon and Knox County. You all will be in lockstep with us celebrating America’s 250th.”
Kathleen Riley from Gov. Mike DeWine’s office presented a proclamation from DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted.
The city will display the proclamation in the CA&C Depot.
