‘Statue of Liberation’ presented to New Orleans foundation

The Lois and Lloyd Hawkins Jr. Foundation of New Orleans has generously included The American Legion in its charitable giving plans for over a decade. On Wednesday, family members of the foundation namesakes received a historical thank you gift.

A limited-edition 18-inch bronze figurine of American Legion founding leader, Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., was presented to the family from the national organization’s Office of Charitable Giving.

“The American Legion has been deeply grateful for charitable contributions from the foundation for many years. These gifts have helped change lives and, as you know, save lives,” American Legion National Commander Daniel Seehafer said before the presentation onstage at the organization’s 105th National Convention, in New Orleans.

The figurine – infused with metals collected from the D-Day battlefields of World War II – is a scaled version of the “Statue of Liberation” that stands at the entrance of Ste. Mere-Eglise, Normandy, first French town liberated by the Americans on June 6, 1944. The full-sized statue was unveiled in 2022 by then-American Legion National Commander Paul A. Dillard and dedicated the following year by then-Commander Vincent J. Troiola.

Roosevelt Jr. stormed Utah Beach in the first wave of the D-Day Allied invasion that led to the liberation of Europe in World War II. At 56, he was the oldest man and only general officer to come ashore in the first wave. He received the Medal of Honor for actions and courage that day. Five weeks later, he died of a heart attack in Normandy and was laid to rest among his comrades, in Ste. Mere-Eglise.

Soon after the armistice that ended World War I, the son of the 26th U.S. President had been the driving force behind the formation of The American Legion, founded in Paris in March 1919.

A second Statue of Liberation, depicting Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, a life member of The American Legion, was unveiled in June 2024 by Seehafer, accompanied by Sons of The American Legion National Commander Donald “J.R.” Hall and American Legion Auxiliary National President Lisa Williamson. The American Legion Family leadership also commemorated the Roosevelt Jr. statue during commemorations of the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Ste. Mere-Eglise.

Sponsored by The American Legion, the Statues of Liberation project is a joint endeavor of Operation Democracy of Locust Valley, N.Y.; Amis des Veterans Americains of Normandy; the City of Ste. Mere-Eglise and the Airborne Museum there, along with other supporters.

The figurine was accepted by Henry Lloyd Hawkins IV, with other family members in attendance. “It’s a privilege to be able to donate to The American Legion,” said the son of Lois and Lloyd Hawkins Jr. “I’m honored to accept this in recognition, on behalf of my parents and the foundation. They would be proud of this.”