Special celebration of light and sound at Statue of Liberty for America's 250th birthday
NEW YORK -- There was a special celebration of light and sound on Liberty Island at one of the country's most iconic landmarks.
The Statue of Liberty is more than just a place to visit -- it represents something far bigger. It's a symbol of freedom, democracy and enlightenment.
It was a gift from the the French in 1886 -- a promise in copper.
And now that promise is getting a new glow with another gift from France, and this one is celebrating America's 250th birthday.
It's called Liberty Lights -- a first-of-its-kind illumination and it is spectacular.
"We wanted to make something special for our American friends," said the Consul General of France Cedrik Fouriscot.
You will get to see it up close and personal during Disney Celebrates America -- 24 hours, 50 states and one country -- and the people and places that make it so special.
Debra OConnell, the chairman of Disney Entertainment Television, helped kick off the ceremony that included a special flyover from the French Air Force.
"It's really the ultimate moment when you think about what the Statue of Liberty, what she represents, she just stands for so much," OConnell said. "Everything that I know we believe in and how special this country is, what it means to be able to celebrate America's 250th birthday, and to do it in a way that the only the Walt Disney Company can bring in these special moments to people across the country and around the world."
Fighter jets helped kick things off and ABC News' Deborah Roberts was in the lead plane. And on the ground, ABC News' Stephanie Ramos sang the National Anthem.
"As a veteran, I've been in the Army Reserve now for 24 years, it's been an incredible journey to be able to serve my country and and just be able to also be a journalist and a correspondent at ABC News," Ramos said.
Ramos said the light show moved her to tears.
It's a spectacle of sights and sounds and a beacon of hope as Lady Liberty lights up like you've never seen before.
ABC is marking America's 250th anniversary with 24 hours of unparalleled programming called "Disney Celebrates America."
The multi-platform broadcast, led by ABC News "World News Tonight" anchor David Muir, will feature coverage across all 50 states, beginning July 3 and running through July 4.
The coverage kicks off at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, July 3 with an unforgettable landmark, artistic event transforming the public's experience of the Statue of Liberty with the Consulate General of France and Muir taking viewers along for a rare look inside of Lady Liberty.
As the clock strikes midnight on Saturday, July 4, ABC News will bring audiences to the first parade in the nation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
