Statue of Liberty celebrates 125th anniversary with high-tech uplift

Statue of Liberty celebrates 125th anniversary with high-tech uplift

New York City celebrated the 125th anniversary of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty on Friday with the launch of the torch cams to give the U.S. iconic symbol a high-tech uplift.

The five torch cams switched on during the 125th anniversary celebration held on Liberty Island offer panorama views of the New York harbor and Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center. The cams also connect with the Internet to give worldwide Internet users a grand view around the clock.

The celebration also featured a naturalization ceremony for 125 candidates for U.S. citizenship representing over 40 countries and lively performance by famous artists.

A small flotilla of government, commercial and private vessels also offered a salute to the statue at the close of the ceremony. Macy's Fireworks will light up the sky Friday night as the grand finale to the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. "She remains an inspiration for people all around the world," New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said during the ceremony.

"She began as a symbol of friendship between France and the United States, evolved into a symbol of our great country, and is known today as an international symbol of freedom for people everywhere," said David Luchsinger, Superintendent of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

The statue, which now is administered by the National Park Service, is due to close Saturday for up to a year so that new stairways and elevators can be installed, among other improvements. However, Liberty Island will remain open.

The Statue of Liberty was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and was dedicated on October 28, 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986.

Editor: Wang Guanqun

English.news.cn   2011-10-29 10:47:55