It’s a big day in Harbour Grace as the town welcomes the return of its Amelia Earhart statue.
The world-famous aviation pioneer took off from the local air strip in 1932 on her first solo flight across the Atlantic.
A statue commemorating her historic links to the town was erected in 2007, but last year, thieves removed Earhart’s likeness from her plinth and made off with it.
The statue was eventually located in the woods near Heart’s Content, cut into pieces.
Pieces of the Amelia Earhart statue displayed by town officials. (Town of Harbour Grace)
Deputy Mayor Gary Baker says the repaired version will be unveiled today on the anniversary of Earhart’s historic flight.
There were fears that the thieves saw value in melting the statue down, but councillor Christina Hearn says the metal used in its casting thwarted their plans.
She says the metal composition served as a fingerprint for the statue and “there was no way to get rid of her.”
The return of the statue will be celebrated in an event this morning at 10:00 in the St. Francis School gymnasium.
