Liberty Weekend
Liberty Weekend was the celebration of the restoration and centenary of the Statue of Liberty in New York City, New York. It began on Thursday, July 3 and ended on Sunday, July 6, 1986.
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[edit] Liberty's Restoration
[edit] Opening Ceremonies
The Opening Ceremonies of Liberty Weekend were held on July 3, 1986 at Governor's Island in New York Harbor. French President François Mitterrand was on hand to give his well wishes to the American people. Secretary of the Interior Donald Hodel (The Interior is the Government agency responsible for the statue), Executive Producer David Wolper, and the Chairman of the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation Lee Iacocca spoke with the latter introducing the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan.
Reagan spoke of the friendship between France and the United States with an emphasis on the workers conducting the restoration work. He then unveiled the Statue for the first time since its restoration. This was followed by musical performances by Neil Diamond (who sang They're Coming to America), Frank Sinatra (who sang The House I Live In), and dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov among others. Ted Koppel of ABC News Nightline presented the Medal of Liberty to outstanding naturalized Americans.
Emil Mosbacher, jr., and Secretary of the Navy John Lehman spoke of the following days events and President Reagan spoke again, this time symbolically lighting the torch of the Statue of Liberty, by pressing a button shooting a laser from the podium to torch. This was done from the flight deck of the USS John F. Kennedy This was followed by a fireworks display set to Stars and Stripes Forever above the statue as well as the skyline of New York city.
Warren Burger, Chief Justice of the United States swore in emigrants to the United States in a naturalization ceremony on Ellis Island.
[edit] Operation Sail
On the morning of July 4, 1986 the battleships and sailing ships of old took part in a naval revue down the Hudson River. The President viewed the ships from the USS Iowa. He saw the ships as a personification of freedom and liberty:
Perhaps, indeed, these vessels embody our conception of liberty itself: to have before one no impediments, only open spaces; to chart one's own course and take the adventure of life as it comes; to be free as the wind -- as free as the tall ships themselves. It's fitting, then, that this procession should take place in honor of Lady Liberty.
| Participants in Operation Sail 1986 | ||
|---|---|---|
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USCGC Eagle (USA) |
Guayas (Ecuador) |
Sagres II (Portugal) RFA Resource (UK) |
[edit] Americana Music Concert and Fireworks
Later on, the Boston Pops Orchestra conducted by John Williams conducted a concert of classic American music at Liberty State Park in New Jersey. It also featured musical performances from John Denver, Johnny Cash, Barry Manilow, Liza Minnelli, Whitney Houston, Joel Grey and numerous others.
This was followed by an address by Reagan aboard the USS John F. Kennedy and a 30 or so minute fireworks display, the highlight of the night. At the time it was the largest in American history.
[edit] July 5 and closing ceremonies
On Saturday July 5, 1986 a New York Philharmonic concert was held in Central Park. Earlier in the day First Lady Nancy Reagan had re-opened the Statue to the public accompanied by 100 French and American School children. At 4.30 pm a ‘Great Blimp Race’ took place over the Hudson River with four airships racing against each other for charity on a 12 mile course from the George Washington Bridge down to Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. The race was filmed by a fifth airship, and two others circled the city. The race was won by the Fuji blimp in 15 minutes and 36 seconds. Resorts International came second, followed by McDonalds and Citibank. The winner received a 2ft long airship trophy from James Hoge, Daily News publisher and the $25,000 Citibank Charity Challenge Cup fund went to the Boys’ Clubs of America. The following day, the Closing Ceremonies grand finale took place at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. The Closing Ceremonies featured a tribute to sports and pop culture.
[edit] Broadcast
The entire event was broadcast on ABC with Peter Jennings and Barbara Walters as commentators. ABC News had paid $10 million for broadcasting rights. CBS also broadcast parts of the event, including Operation Sail 1986.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- July 7, 1986 article in Time magazine about the event
[edit] Sources
- Liberty Weekend. ABC. KOVR. 3–6 July 1986.
- Liberty Weekend: Commemorative Edition. Videocassette. ABC Video Enterprises, 1986.
- Bond, L.E. Statue of Liberty: Beacon of Promise. Santa Barbra, CA: Albion Group, 1990. 34-37.
