NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RULES OUT APPLYING PASTIES TO FIRST MAMMARY GLANDS OF LIBERTY DURING THE CHANGE. "AFTER ALL, THIS IS LIBERTY ISLAND, NOT A FRENCH CAN-CAN."NEW YORK - The Statue of Liberty is getting a long-overdue makeover this summer, and the most prominent, and controversial, change will be a new robe to cover the 151-foot tall colossus. "The old gal hasn't changed her outfit since she was assembled back in 1886 when the French give her to us," said Noah Swayne of the National Park Service. "It's way past time."
The National Park Service estimates there will be a two-hour period after the statue's old copper robe is shed when Lady Liberty's anatomically correct, realistically painted naked body will be exposed. Noah Swayne said he is "heartsick that the first mammary glands of liberty will be transformed into little more than near-occasions of sin for every male in the New York Metropolitan area, but we have no other choice."
The National Park Service briefly considered, but ultimately rejected, the use of pasties. "That was never given serious consideration," said Swayne. "After all, this is Liberty Island, not a French Can-Can." In the end, Swayne said, the residents of New York and New Jersey within view of the statue will be left to the honor system: the National Park Service is asking them simply to avert their eyes during the change.
"One thing's for sure," Swayne said, "immigrants arriving in New York Harbor that day will get a welcome unlike any other in history."
