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Mini Statues of Liberty scattered across Nebraska. Some have lived hard lives.

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A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

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Mini Statues of Liberty scattered across Nebraska. Some have lived hard lives.

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John Lajba has grown accustomed to having Lady Liberty loom over him while he works in his downtown Omaha studio.

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Omaha sculptor John Lajba, shown in his studio, has been involved in a number of notable projects. He hopes a future project will involve the restoration of Omaha’s Little Sister of Liberty. Around 200 Little Liberties were placed across the country in the mid-20th century to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America.

Joseph Saaid, Flatwater Free Press

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Omaha’s Little Sister of Liberty, which was among at least 15 placed in Nebraska, stood in Turner Park for several decades. For the past 30 years, it’s been tucked away in storage in sculptor John Lajba’s downtown Omaha studio.

Joseph Saaid, Flatwater Free Press

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John Lajba sands a sculpture commissioned by a local Catholic church inside his downtown Omaha studio on Jan. 16.

Joseph Saaid, Flatwater Free Press

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The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraska’s first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

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Statues of Liberty COPYRIGHT RESTRICTED

Omaha sculptor John Lajba, shown in his studio, has been involved in a number of notable projects. He hopes a future project will involve the restoration of Omaha’s Little Sister of Liberty. Around 200 Little Liberties were placed across the country in the mid-20th century to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America.

Omaha’s Little Sister of Liberty, which was among at least 15 placed in Nebraska, stood in Turner Park for several decades. For the past 30 years, it’s been tucked away in storage in sculptor John Lajba’s downtown Omaha studio.

John Lajba sands a sculpture commissioned by a local Catholic church inside his downtown Omaha studio on Jan. 16.

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