Statue of Liberty relit after Sandy

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NEW YORK, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- A donation from a lighting company helped relight the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor for the first time since Hurricane Sandy, park officials said.

The National Park Service said in a statement the statue was a "bright beacon of hope" for New York and New Jersey residents when its lights went on Friday night. The statue was one of almost 70 national parks affected by the massive storm.

Musco Lighting, which specializes in lighting up large outdoor spaces like stadiums, donated equipment and services to the National Park Foundation, a non-profit group that raises money for the parks.

The company developed a system of lights powered by portable generators, allowing them to be moved around easily as the statue is restored.

"For 125 years the Statue of Liberty has been one of the world's most enduring symbols of our nation and this great city," National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis said. "While we work to do everything necessary to re-open the Statue and every other national park damaged by the hurricane, we are grateful to Musco and the National Park Foundation for turning the lights on Lady Liberty, another step forward in the recovery of this region."