France will mark the 250th anniversary of the United States with a spectacular light show at the Statue of Liberty, the French consulate in New York announced on Monday. The event, described as a "monumental artistic creation," will be pre-recorded and broadcast by ABC at the start of its 25-hour programming dedicated to Independence Day on 4 July.
"The Statue of Liberty will be revealed to the public as never before, in a production designed to amplify its symbolic and emotional power," the consulate said in a statement. France's consul in New York, Cedrik Fouriscot, told AFP that "our friendship goes back 250 years; it remains very strong, it is deep, and that is why we wanted to do something memorable."
A Gift of Friendship
The Statue of Liberty, located in New York Harbour, was created by French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi, who initially chose Viollet-le-Duc as architect, later replaced after his death by Gustave Eiffel. It was presented to the United States by France in 1886 and is among the country's most famous landmarks. The statue's inscription, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free," has long symbolized the welcoming spirit of America.
Entirely funded by private sponsorship, the project was conceived to showcase "France's excellence through its technology and its artists," Fouriscot added. It required special authorisation from the National Park Service, which manages the monument, following negotiations that lasted several months.
France has also sent its aerobatic air display team, the Patrouille de France, to the United States this month to celebrate the 250th anniversary. On 9 June, eight Alpha Jets from the Patrouille de France painted the Manhattan sky in the colours of the French tricolour as they flew over the iconic statue. A flypast is also planned over New York on the final day of the festivities, 4 July, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. This exceptional operation is being organised as part of the celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence.
The eight PAF aircraft, whose tail fins will for the occasion carry an American flag on one side and a French flag on the other, will be accompanied by an A400M transport plane and two spare aircraft, representing a total of 85 military personnel.
This gesture of friendship comes at a time when transatlantic relations are under scrutiny, but it underscores the enduring cultural and historical ties between France and the United States. The light show and flypast are a reminder of the shared values of liberty and democracy that bind the two nations.
