Posted on 08/11/2011 7:20:25 AM PDT by NEWwoman
Photo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kissing_the_War_Goodbye.jpg
Above is the lesser known photo taken by Lt. Victor Jorgensen of a sailor kissing a passing nurse on VJ Day in Times Square.
The most famous and iconic picture of this same subject - VJ Day in Times Square - taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt, was published in LIFE in 1945 with the caption, In New York's Times Square a white-clad girl clutches her purse and skirt as an uninhibited sailor plants his lips squarely on hers.
August 14, 1945 in New York City was a magical moment - a confluence of history, a place, and everyday people. Soldiers were returning home from an intense four years of fighting when President Truman announced Victory in Japan (VJ Day) - the end of the American involvement in World War II.
In Times Square, the sailors paraded in joy for they had won! On the street, civilians came out to the streets from their shops, the hospitals, to savor this moment of victory. Then a sailor, caught up in the passion, kissed a surprised young nurse, who was stopped in mid stride as two photographers, Lt. Jorgenson, an American sailor, and Alfred Eisenstaedt, a German-American photojournalist for LIFE magazine, snapped this spontaneous moment.
Eisenstaedt, whose photo made it into LIFE, ironically had fought on the side of Germany in World War I. He later photographed a meeting between Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini in Italy before emigrating to US to escape Nazi oppression in 1935 .
But who were the subjects of Jorgenson's and Eisenstaedt's iconic photo?
The nurse was Edith Shain and here is the story:
http://www.youtube.com/v/RMINU-O_DlU&hl=en_US&fs=1
The greatest generation, like Edith Shain who passed away this June 2010, is fading into history. The new generation taking their place is greatly in debt to their sacrifce.
When our nation was born, the writers of the Declaration of Independence finished "with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor."
So did many, who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II, carried the Spirit of 1776 to the Spirit of 1945. May our generation carry the Spirit of 1776 and 1945 in 2010 and beyond.
Other links:
From nydailynews.com: Edith Shain, nurse whose V-J kiss with sailor in Times Square immortalized in Life photo, dies at 91 http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/06/23/2010-06-23_edith_shain_nurse_whose_vj_kiss_with_sailor_in_times_square_immortalized_in_life.html
From YouTube.com: Photo of iconic kiss reenacted http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAUKT334ZTg&feature=related
In these times when it seems America is in decline, I look to the past to draw strength - yes, we can do it! We can take on the challenges and have victory if we have the heart and will to do so.
Gene Simmons is that old?
Gene Simmons - you beccha.
He loves our country and the sacrifice of our military:
check this out -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_popout&v=5MtdIO23MKM
I was there! A day I will never forget!
Hooray!
Is your picture in the video clip.?
No, I was 5 days before my 9th b-day. No cameras could have found me in the million strong in Times Square! My big sis, age 17 yrs. saw a lot of kissing action from every Serviceman around us....but all I got was a few pats on the top of my head. LOL!
You were part of history. What a story!
After we left Times Square, my Aunt took us to Chinatown where they had the huge "Dragon" out roaming the streets. When we got back to my Aunt's 3rd floor flat, my sis and I sat out on her fire escape and watched the celebrants throughout the night. Just a very memorable day in my life.
You really need to write all this down - put it in a book, a part of someone else’s book, or video record it.
It may become a valuable piece of history.
The new generation taking their place is greatly in debt.
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