NEW YORK (AP) -
The Statue of Liberty was illuminated
Friday evening for the first time since it was
damaged by Superstorm Sandy.
The statue, one of the city's top tourist
attractions, has been closed because of
damage resulting from the storm that hit
New York Oct. 29, with no estimate
on when it will reopen to visitors.
The statue sits on a small island in
New York Harbor, and can be seen from
many vantage points around
New York City.
The monument was re-lit through temporary
measures made possible by a donation of
equipment and services from Musco Lighting
to the National Park Foundation, which is the
official charity of America's national parks,
according to a statement from the National
Park Service.
Another company, Natoli Construction,
handled the lighting of the statue's
torch and crown.
The temporary lighting will remain in
place until permanent repairs are made.
Mike Litterst, a spokesman for the
National Park Service, said it was not
clear in advance whether the
relighting would include the torch &
"so it was a pleasant surprise to be able
to get the torch lit tonight."
The statue's lamp is held aloft by its raised
arm and marks the highest point of the
305-foot-tall (93 meters) monument,
which was dedicated in 1886
"The New Colossus," a poem by
Emma Lazarus engraved inside the
statue's pedestal, refers to the beacon
in its final line:
"I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame
With conquering limbs
astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed,
sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch,
whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning,
and her name Mother of Exiles.
From her beacon-hand Glows
world-wide welcome;
her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that
twin cities frame,
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips.
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning
to breathe free, The wretched refuse
of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
by Emma Lazarus, New York City, 1883
IT WON'T LAST FOREVER...NOW IS THE TIME! " now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corin 6:2 http://t.co/QUFz32ZY
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