The spontaneous surrender of Japan ended World War II on August 14, 1945, and in Times Square in New York City a United States sailor and a nurse embraced among celebrating crowds in a moment expressing the pride and relief felt by both the military and the home front after eleven years of unemployment and the hardships of the Great Depression, four years of horrific war, the loss of loved ones, rationing of food and gasoline, and war production duties. This generation was called the “Greatest Generation.” Preeminent American sculptor J. Seward Johnson created “Unconditional Surrender” in response to that celebrated moment in the nation’s history, and after several years of intensive efforts World War II veteran Jack Curren, with support from various Sarasota County veterans organizations, bought it and donated it to the City of Sarasota as a reminder of that unity on August 14, 1945.