20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest The American Experience
Recognition of Freedom

The first thing he said was “yellow plane”. He burst into full speed and then went straight to this plane and laid his hand directly in the center of the star. It blew my wife and I away at how determined he was to get close to and lay his hand on the plane. It was the first time he was up close to a plane in his life. A true symbol, in our eyes, about a 3.5 year old boy’s recognition of freedom.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: Fort Worth, Tx, United States of America
Copyright: © James Theiss