PHOTOS: Unconditional Surrender Statue Returns To Sarasota

The kissing sailor statue is back on Sarasota's bayfront Tuesday morning and the love and hate for the statue remains unconditional seven months after its removal.

The statue, and was lowered by crane after it received extensive damage. The Sarasota Arts Foundation with help from The Sculpture Foundation was able to send it for repairs to Johnson Atelier in New Jersey.

"The Sculpture Foundation is delighted by the enthusiasm the people of Sarasota have shown for the sculpture’s return and appreciate their sense of loss in its absence,” the foundation announced in a statement.

The statue was insured for about $560,000, but damages were estimated to be beyond that.

The statue replicates the famous LIFE magazine photo celebrating Victory in Japan Day, and is one of several similar statues across the country.

The Seward Johnson statue first came to Sarasota in 2005 from the Sarasota Season of Sculpture exhibit.

Fans of the Sarasota Patch Facebook page, folks responded to the statue's return and the opinions remain as divided as they once were while the photo had more than 230 likes by the end of Tuesday with more than 100 shares:

Van Jazmin It was nice not having to look at that symbol of male dominance for awhile, but so it goes.

Lauren Wood Ugh. Make it go away.

Michelle Nicolette I am one of the despisers.

Laura Mcdowell Didn't miss the traffic backup

Devin O'Connell Oh Great i like that one...so romantic.

Tanya Walter Noooooooooooooooooooooooo! :( Chalk Festival murals get painted over and THIS is what gets to return to our beautiful coastline again and again!?! I think I'm going to puke!

Jeremy Lembo It is my understanding that we as Citizens are just not allowed to have public art. We are force fed artistic feces...Jesus... Rename the damn thing to Date Rape or something. Sheesh.

Cathy McDowell YAY!! They're back where they belong in time for Christmas!!

Related Unconditional Surrender Coverage:

• 'Unconditional Surrender' statue's return delayed
• Is This The Real KISS Statue Couple?
• Memorial Day Not The Same Without 'Unconditional Surrender'
• UPDATE: 'Unconditional Surrender' Removed For Repairs (VIDEO)