On July 4, 1986, America celebrated not only its 210th anniversary of independence from Great Britain but also the 100th birthday of the Statue of Liberty. That day marked the completion of a two-year restoration project of the statue involving the working hands of many trades. But when it came to upgrading the power source for Lady Liberty, the project engineers turned to the IBEW.

The Statue of Liberty was designed by French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi. Fabrication began in France in 1877 and the finished copper plates and internal iron frame were shipped to New York in 1885. Upon its assembly on Liberty Island, the statue stood 151 feet high and formally opened on Oct. 28, 1886. A small power station was built on the island to light the torch and for other electrical needs, but it proved to be insufficient. There was no exterior lighting system and the torch glow could barely be seen from the city at night.

It wasn't until 1916 that an underwater power cable was installed, bringing electricity from the mainland. The copper plating of the torch was replaced with stained glass and floodlights were placed along the statue's pedestal. On December 2, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson pressed a telegraph key that turned on the lights, successfully illuminating the statue and the torch for the first time.

By 1982, the statue had developed dangerous signs of age from damaged copper, rusted iron, and an inadequate power system. That year, President Ronald Reagan formed the Statue of Liberty — Ellis Island Centennial Commission to restore the statue in time for its 100th birthday. After two years of fundraising, the project began in earnest in 1984. Members from several trade unions, from both the U.S. and France, were involved. IBEW members were tasked with manufacturing and installing a new underwater cable to serve as the statue's primary source of electrical power.

The contract for the cable was secured by the Okonite Company of New Jersey and the Simplex Wire and Cable Company of New Hampshire. Okonite employed members of IBEW Local 1992 in Brunswick, N.J., and Simplex employed members of Local 2208 in Newington, N.H. After an intensive six-month review process, overseen by engineers from both firms, the finished design featured the latest in power-cable materials as well as a fiber-optic core, allowing it to carry communications to and from Liberty Island with lightning speed. And to mark its patriotic purpose, the cable featured a red, white, and blue-colored insulated protection. The cable was manufactured in May of 1986 with IBEW members at both facilities donating their time.

The cable was installed in June by members of Jersey City, N.J., Local 164 and New York Local 3. It was strung across the bottom of New York Harbor, stretching from the Public Service Electric and Gas Company in Liberty State Park, N.J., to the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island. On July 4, 1986, Reagan flipped on a switch, bringing state-of-the-art illumination to the Statue of Liberty for her 100th birthday.

This Independence Day, our American sisters and brothers can take pride in knowing that Lady Liberty shines brightly thanks to the hard work and generosity of members of the IBEW.