This is an antique wood carving of an eagle that has been passed down in my family since my maternal Great-Grandfather, George Churchill Francis, bought it from the family of Isaac Cox Barnet in his hometown of Cohasset, Massachusetts, in the 1930s. Isaac Cox Barnet was an American Consul stationed in France at the time of the French Revolution. This eagle was posted in each of his offices and eventually in his home in France, where it remained until his death in 1833. His French descendants kept it in the family before returning it to America in the early 1900s and selling it to my family.  This carving is my Grandfather’s most prized possession because my Grandfather was fascinated with the history behind the relic, and he held a deep emotional attachment to it because it was precious to his parents before they passed as well.  This relic helps me recognize the significance of our country’s symbol, the bald eagle, and how strong and timeless its impact has had on the American people, and to have this Revolutionary-era antique in my family’s possession makes me proud. The eagle symbolizes freedom, and having it in my life makes me feel protected and safe.

– HV

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