The 25-foot tall “Unconditional Surrender” sculpture near San Diego’s Midway Museum has stood tall on the Embarcadero for half a decade. The statue, which depicts a nurse and sailor in a passionate embrace at the conclusion of World War II, is based on an iconic photo captured by Alfred Eisenstaedt in Times Square in August, 1945.

During its stint in SoCal, the sculpture has become a popular attraction and photo-op for locals and visiting tourists arriving on flights to San Diego. However, its time in America’s Finest City could be drawing to a close.  On loan for more than five years, the statue is set to return to J. Seward Johnson’s Sculpture Foundation in Santa Monica in just a few weeks.

However, those plans aren’t sitting well with everyone. Donald J. Reeves and his wife, Julia, were high school sweethearts during World War II and feel the sculpture has special meaning for the residents of San Diego.

The pair are attempting to raise enough money to install a permanent bronze replica of the statue at the current sight. The Port of San Diego’s Public Art Committee was set to meet this afternoon to discuss the future of the project.

Source: 10News.com

CC Flickr photo credit: Herb Neufield