Today, a great American icon of freedom celebrates her 125th birthday – unfortunately, she won’t be enjoying any cake.

The Statue of Liberty, standing proudly on Liberty Island over New York Harbor, has served as a symbol of American independence since her arrival in New York on October 28, 1886. The statue was actually a gift to the U.S. from the people of France as a memorial to the American Declaration of Independence nearly a century earlier on July 4, 1776.  Every year, more than 3 million people visit the Statue of Liberty from all over the world. For the birthday celebration today, Lady Liberty will be outfitted with web cameras on her torch that allow Internet viewers to gaze out over New York Harbor as if they were on top of the statue.

On this significant day for our country, we’d like to take a moment to recognize an industry that is woven into the very fabric of American culture – the non-alcoholic beverage industry.  From manufacturing to delivery, our industry provides 220,000 jobs across the country and has a direct economic impact of $178.5 Today, take a moment to reflect on - and celebrate - this great country, and enjoy your favorite American beverage.

From an iconic American industry to an American icon, we salute you!