Statue of Liberty reopens despite terror threats

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 August 2004, 02:30 GMT]
Statue of Liberty reopened to visitors today for the first time since the 2001 terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center. The reopening ceremony presided by Mayor of NewYork, Michael Bloomberg, lasted an hour . Over $35 million was raised in private funds for improvements that included upgrading security, according to media reports.

"I've seen what war can do. Nobody wins in a war. But the only thing worse than war is slavery. And as long as Lady Liberty is standing on her perch, her pedestal, we're free," said Charlie DeLeo, who has taken a ferry across New York harbor to go to work at the Statue of Liberty for the last 27 years, CNN website said.

U.S. National Park Service which maintains the site said in its website: Located on 12-acre Liberty Island in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty was a gift of international friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is one of the most universal symbols of political freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886 and was designated a National Monument on October 15, 1924. The Statue was extensively restored in time for her spectacular centennial on July 4, 1986.