Statue of Liberty's crown reopens for visitors

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Thirty people joined National Park Service rangers Saturday in climbing to the crown of the Statue of Liberty, the first tourists to go into the landmark's crown since the 9/11 attacks.

The New York Harbor monument was closed after the terrorist assaults on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon for safety and security reasons, the Interior Department said.

"Once again, Americans can climb to Lady Liberty's crown and gaze out over New York Harbor, where so many of our ancestors first saw the New World and first breathed the fresh air of freedom," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said as he welcomed visitors back on the Fourth of July holiday. "This is a celebration of America and the joy of being an American."

Visitors on Saturday were grateful they could go inside the landmark.

"It's just basically safety for our country and at least they opened it," visitor Ira Semapadilla told CNN affiliate NY1 before the visit. "That's one thing that I was like, wow, I'm never going to experience it. ... They ruined it for us.

"Now that it's going to open again I'm excited, and I'm just really looking forward to being in there."

www.cnn.com...

YEAH...that has been what a terrorist (whatever defines that these days) has been waiting for. PLEASE! This was a PR move that was implemented in 2001 and thought of back in the 80's I'm sure....the Statue of Liberty has been a minimal target at best...who would die from an attack on the SoL's Crown? 2? Maybe 3?...it's all a game...and Washington is in control of this game...make a better serve next time Washiongton D.C. or Whatever your name/agenda is.

[edit on 4-7-2009 by Aggie Man]