Wounded warriors get sneak peek of renovated Statue of Liberty

NEW YORK -- After a nearly a year long, multi-million dollar makeover, the Statue of Liberty is set to reopen.

The national landmark does not reopen to the public until Saturday, but wounded warriors got a chance to tour the inside for a sneak peek.

The $30 million renovations were done to make the Statute of Liberty handicapped accessible.

The work includes upgraded stairwells and a wheelchair accessible elevator to the observation deck.

"Just to be here was something that never really entered my mind because I simply hate to be turned down, I hate to be rejected," said Vietnam Veteran Larry Hughes. "So I'm no longer being rejected."

The weekend also marks the Statue of Liberty's 126th birthrday.

The crown opens Sunday.

All of the work should be done by early next year.

Ticket demand is already so high that tours are sold through the end of the year.

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