A statue of Christopher Columbus that became the subject of contention in Providence has a new home on an island in Johnston, where surveillance cameras will be used to protect it from vandalism. Cleaned of the red paint that covered the statue twice in recent years, the statue was hoisted onto a pedestal Tuesday morning by a volunteer crew using a giant crane, in a section of Johnston War Memorial Park that is surrounded by water.

“I heard about it on the radio this morning, and I threw my clothes on, I had to come out here to see Columbus being rested in a long-term place that’s welcoming him,” said John Cianci, head of the Italian American War Veterans of the United States. Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena, Jr. welcomed the statue, donated by former Providence Mayor Joseph Paolino, who purchased it from the City of Providence earlier this year.