Erath receives Lady Liberty just before the 4th

ERATH - There is a new lady in Erath who catches everyone’s attention.

She stands 11 feet tall and weighs 150 pounds. This new lady is not a new exchange student from Russia imported to play basketball for the Lady Bobcat basketball team.

The color of the new lady is swimming pool blue, and she stands in front of Erath City Hall. She arrived in Erath Monday morning and by 10 a.m., stood watching over the town.

She was brought to Erath in a pickup truck driven by Rep. Bobby Badon from Carencro. It took four men to unload her.

Her name? Lady Liberty of Erath.

As of Monday, Lady Liberty has a new home in Erath. It is not the same Lady Liberty that is on display in New York and is there to greet everyone who enters America on Ellis Island.

The one in Erath is there to greet people who enter city hall and the Erath Post Office.

While France gave America the Statue of Liberty in 1886 out of friendship, Badon also gave the aluminum Statue of Liberty to Erath out of friendship.

He and Mayor George Dupuis both graduated from Northside High School together in 1968 and remained friends.

Rep. Badon owns the company, Molded Rubber Specialities in Carencro, and in front of the business is a Statue of Liberty like the one he donated. When he purchased his in 1999, he purchased two extras.

Eventually, he donated one to the VFW in Arnaudville and then called Dupuis about giving the other to Erath.

The town workers built a cement base this weekend for her to stand on, and Badon brought Lady Liberty to Erath Monday.

“I think no other town in the state celebrates the Fourth of July like Erath,” said Dupuis. “This statue is fitting for our celebration.”

Badon is no stranger to Erath. He has two grandchildren, Brittany Badon and Brock Simon, who attend Dozier Elementary.

Badon, said, “I want them to be able to look at her and say, “my papa donated that.’”

The Statue of Liberty stands next to the cast iron bell that was donated to Erath from the old Sugar Mill.

Erath town workers Bill Perez and Jessie Frederick painted two coats of blue paint on her.

Dupuis said the delivery time was perfect.

“Just in time for the Fourth of July,” Dupuis added.