Statue Of Liberty To Close

By Art Gallagher

The Associated Press is reporting that the Statue of Liberty is closing in October for “safety upgrades and other renovations” that will cost taxpayers $27.25 million.

Those upgrades are ““code-compliant” stairways and upgrade electrical and fire suppression systems, elevators and bathrooms.”  according to the AP article.

Really?  We need “code-compliant” stairways, elevators and bathrooms in a 150 year old symbol of Liberty?  The Lady will be closed for a year.    I hope no one gets the bright idea of fixing the broken chain at the Lady’s feet during that year.

This closure is a symbol of a loss of freedom for Americans for more than the obvious reasons.

Throughout the history of Lady Liberty its construction and renovations were provided by private fund raising.  In good economic times and bad. While the statute  itself was a gift from France, the cost of construction of the pedestal was provided by citizens private donations.

In 1982 President Ronald Reagan announced the formation of the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Centennial Commission which was charged with raising private money to renovate the Lady.  Led by Chrysler Chairman LeeIacocca, the commission raised $350 million for a major renovation.  The renovation started in 1984 and was completed in 1986 when President Reagan rededicated the statute on July 4.

The 1980’s campaign to renovate the statute was a source of pride and patriotism for American.  Donors’ names were engraved in marble on walls in the pedestal.  My father’s name is engraved there.

25 years later we have surrendered our private fund raising for the Lady, as well as for many, many, many, too many charitable endeavors to the  federal government.  The more we let the government be responsible for, the less freedom we have, the less pride and patriotism we have.

Posted: August 11th, 2011 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Liberty | Tags: Statute Of Liberty | 1 Comment »

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