<\/p>\n
On 6 July, Liberty Island hosted a ceremony celebrating the ties between France and the United States. Centred around a spectacular light show, the event brought together representatives from various institutions as well as executives from major French and American groups, including L\u2019Or\u00e9al Group and Est\u00e9e Lauder Companies. This initiative forms part of the festivities marking the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence and highlights the shared values of freedom, innovation and cooperation between the two nations.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The history of the Statue of Liberty began in the 1860s. The idea was championed by the French lawyer \u00c9douard de Laboulaye<\/strong>, who wished to present the United States with a monument celebrating the friendship between the two peoples and democratic ideals.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The project was entrusted to the sculptor Auguste Bartholdi<\/strong>. Following the death of the architect Eug\u00e8ne Viollet-le-Duc<\/strong>, it was Gustave Eiffel<\/strong> who designed the internal metal framework to support the monument\u2019s immense copper plates.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The statue was completed in France, then dismantled into several hundred crates before being shipped across the Atlantic. It was unveiled on 28 October 1886<\/strong> by US President Grover Cleveland on Bedloe\u2019s Island, now known as Liberty Island. Since then, it has welcomed travellers entering New York Harbour and remains one of the world\u2019s most iconic monuments.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nearly 140 years<\/strong> after its inauguration, the Statue of Liberty continues to embody the values of freedom, hope and openness. The light show devised by France for the 250th anniversary of the United States illustrates this desire to bring this shared heritage to life through a contemporary creation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For L\u2019Or\u00e9al Group<\/strong>, Est\u00e9e Lauder Companies<\/strong> and the event\u2019s partners, this celebration goes beyond a mere historical tribute: it serves as a reminder that cultural, economic and human exchanges between France and the United States remain as relevant as ever. In an ever-changing international context, \u2018Lady Liberty\u2019<\/strong> remains a bridge between the two sides of the Atlantic, true to the purpose her creators intended for her nearly a century and a half ago.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\nAn icon that still carries meaning<\/h2>\n