By Tim Binnall
The saga of an Amelia Earhart statue stolen from a Canadian town and subsequently recovered in pieces has come full circle as the restored depiction of the pioneering pilot was unveiled this week at the spot where it had previously stood. The sizeable bronze artwork in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, celebrates the community being the departure point for the aviatrix's famed 1932 transatlantic flight. Since its creation in 2007, the statue had been a beloved landmark in the town until some sticky-fingered ne'er-do-wells stole the artwork last April. The mystery surrounding its disappearance took something an unsightly turn when it was later discovered chopped into five large pieces in a nearby community.
While the perpetrators of the thoughtless crime have yet to be brought to justice, upon recovering the statue, the town quickly set about restoring the artwork. After several long months and fittingly timed to commemorate the anniversary of when her historic flight embarked from Harbour Grace on May 20th, 1932, a celebration was reportedly held in the community on Wednesday to unveil the rebuilt piece. As one might imagine, the event was a festive affair with music, speakers, a five-plane flyover, and an Amelia Earhart impersonator. To prevent any future shenanigans involving the statue, the town has beefed up security around the piece, including additional lighting and security cameras to watch over the work.