Recently the controversial Unconditional Surrender statue, also known as “The Kiss,” returned to the San Diego shoreline and was installed on a new, permanent platform located between The Fish Market and the starboard side of the USS Midway Museum.

I say controversial because, well it is.

The Unconditional Surrender statue, sculpted by Seward Johnson, is based upon the iconic images taken on V-J (Victory over Japan) day in Times Square on August 14, 1945. Johnson has sculpted dozens of life-sized and larger-than-life sized sculptures for public art installations around the world.

The local debate started when a lighter weight, more portable version of the 25-foot statue – intended as a temporary exhibition but lasting for nearly five years – first graced our shores in 2007.  That debate has never really ended.

The purpose of the temporary exhibition was to garner public and private interest in the statue with the hopes of securing funds for a permanent sculpture. As history shows, that was easier said than done.

The UT San Diego reported in March of 2012 that several commissioners sitting on the Port of San Diego’s Public Art Commission actually resigned over the Port’s decision to support funding of a permanent installation. They had all recommended that the Port get rid of the statue, because according to the story, “members did not believe it met the aesthetic qualities called for in recently adopted criteria.” Apparently the overall vote was 6-4 against acceptance, with two other commissioners who were absent later saying they would have voted with the majority, making it a whopping 8-4 against the sculpture.

“But bowing to public support, the port commissioners decided that popularity should trump artistic merit,” the story said.

As it should; but thank you for your recommendations, Public Art Commission.

After several other fundraising drives failed, and the exhibition extensions had reached their maximum, the staff of the USS Midway Museum asked the Port of San Diego if they could give the effort a try.

Quicker than you could say Midway, they brought on seven private $100,000 donors in just a few weeks, then launched a public campaign, saying they’d match the next $100,000 raised. Eight weeks later, they had their funding.

Two weeks ago, on Saturday, Feb. 16, the permanent installation – paid for entirely by donations and not city funds ­– was dedicated to much fanfare. But as you will see on this page, we are still hearing from naysayers just reporting on it. Many also posted their disdain on Facebook postings of the same story. “[I read that] the sailor was drunk and forced her to kiss him. Not too romantic at all,” one commentor said. “I just think it’s bad art. It’s a bad copy – not an interpretation – of a great photo. … it would be better off at Disneyland,” said another. “It’s hideous and doesn’t represent me or my family,” said one angry poster who also said she planned to protest the dedication.

I’ll be the first to admit ­that I love the statue. I also love the similar-sized “Seven Year Itch” Marilyn Monroe statue that is now gracing downtown Palm Springs, too, but I digress.

It’s not that I love camp, which The Kiss statue has been accused of being, rather than actual art; what I am is a fan of nostalgia in all its forms, especially when it comes to our veterans. My grandfather served in WWII, my newspaper editor father was a Korean War veteran, and I’m a retired Navy veteran, myself. But my mother was a freelance artist and an arts and culture community servant, so I was around art my entire life.

Art is about each individual who experiences it. It rarely has the same impact from one person to the next. As far as I am concerned, this “kitchy” but iconic statue will move many to tears, others to quitely reflect, and probably cause a few fist shakes, and that’s okay. That is what art in all of its forms is supposed to do.

I think this statue … in this place … is perfect.

After all, the USS Midway was commissioned just weeks after the end of WWII and named for one of its mightiest contests, the Battle of Midway. The Port of San Diego has plans to further develop the area in the immediate vicinity of the statue, an area that already pays homage to a number of other military campaigns and events, including the WWII-centric Battle of Leytle Gulf, USS San Diego and even Bob Hope’s USO tours over the years. I understand the new development will even be called the “Greatest Generation Walk,” so as far as I’m concerned, a statue meant to commemorate V-J Day falls in lock-step with its environment.

There is no doubt the statue will draw crowds of both locals and visitors to the area, and what’s wrong with that?  Our city thrives on tourism. I don’t hear anyone complaining about Kansas City BBQ and it’s overdone Top Gun connection drawing wide appeal and attention. I’ve taken plenty of people there.

Scott McGaugh, marketing director of the USS Midway Museum may have said it best when I interviewed him for last month’s story [“Kiss statue” to return anew, Vol. 14, issue 2].

“We think it’s a great tribute to the greatest generation – the 16 million Americans who served and defended our country in WWII. … What the statue has come to represent, the sacrifice and peace – together with its location here in Navy Town USA we just think it’s a natural fit.”

Clearly, you either love The Kiss statue or you hate it. Unfortunately for the haters, it is here to stay. I recommend they just unconditionally surrender.