The Dedication of the Statue of Helen Keller

Posted by Carl Augusto on 10/8/2009 5:56:59 PM

Yesterday, I had the privilege of speaking at the U.S. Capitol during the unveiling ceremony of the new Helen Keller statue, which features Helen as a child at the famous water pump at her home in Tuscumbia. The statue, donated by the state of Alabama, is the first in the Capitol collection to honor a disabled person.

The event was magnificent featuring a performance from the students from the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind and remarks from The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, The Honorable Harry Reid, The Honorable Steny Hoyer, The Honorable Mitch McConnell, The Honorable John Boehner, and The Honorable Bob Riley, Governor of Alabama.

As the Rotunda buzzed with excitement over the new statue, we were all reminded of just how inspirational Helen Keller remains. All of the remarks during the ceremony referenced her fighting spirit, her passion to help others, and her belief in a better tomorrow. As I said in my speech, Helen Keller's biggest desire was to leave the world a better place than she found it. And that's the legacy she leaves with all of us. I hope that you will get a chance to see the impressive statue in the U.S. Capitol, and when you do, remember Ms. Keller's remarkable story.

Here are some photos from the event. And here is an article from PBS that includes a video clip from the ceremony.

Re: The Dedication of the Statue of Helen Keller
Posted by Morgan Piland on 11/4/2009 8:04:37 PM

I'm in second grade and I just learned about Helen Keller. She is is one of my favorite famous Americans!

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