Liberty Weekend was a four-day celebration held to mark the 1984–86 restoration and the centenary of the Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World) in New York City.[1] It began on July 3, 1986, and ended on July 6.
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"), Jose Feliciano and Diane Schuur singing a duet ("The American Wedding Song"), as well as dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, among others. Ted Koppel of ABC News Nightline presented the Medal of Liberty to outstanding naturalized Americans.
Emil Mosbacher, organizer of Operation Sail, and Secretary of the NavyJohn Lehman spoke of the following day's events. 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 aircraft carrierUSS John F. Kennedy. Finally, a fireworks display set to "The Stars and Stripes Forever" was enacted above the statue as well as the skyline of New York city.
The temperature in the harbor was about 40 °F (5 °C) that night with a sharp wind blowing across Governors Island.
July 4, 1986: Operation Sail, Americana music concert, and fireworks
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, including the largest flotilla of tall ships to assemble in modern history.[2] Reagan viewed the ships from USS Iowa.[1] He described 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.
This was followed by an address by Reagan aboard USS John F. Kennedy, and a 30-minute fireworks display and concert, scored and conducted by Joe Raposo, the highlight of the night. It was the largest fireworks display in American history, and at the time the largest in the world. The display included 22,000 aerial fireworks, launched from 30 barges and other vantage points, in addition to 18,000 set pieces. It was co-produced by four family-owned fireworks firms, namely the Zambelli, Grucci, Santore and Sousa families.[3]
July 5, 1986: grand reopening, concert
On July 5, 1986, First LadyNancy Reagan re-opened the statue to the public accompanied by 100 French and American young singers: Paris Boys Choir and Harlem Boys Choir.
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 McDonald's and Citibank. The winner received a two-foot-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.
In his book Even This I Get To Experience, television personality Norman Lear stated that he was the one who produced the four-day special, which he described as "my parade" of "tall ships".[4] Lear also stated that he used the Israeli ship, The Galaxy, which set sail during the event, to host a private party celebrating his upcoming marriage to his fiancée Lyn and that he in part made the special so that it would coincide with this party as well.[4]
