‘The Kiss’ smoochers reunited for 67th anniversary of VJ day
It’s taken decades, but it seems the controversy surrounding the couple from the iconic photo “The Kiss” has finally been put to rest. The photo, taken after Japan had announced its surrender and officially ended World War II, shows a sailor and a nurse embracing in Times Square. For many years, the identities of the kissers were unknown, but a Rhode Island historian has confirmed that they are George Mendonsa, a first-class sailor, and Greta Friedman, a dental assistant. Mendonsa did not know Friedman at the time of the kiss, and was actually on a date with another woman, Rita Petrie, who would eventually become his wife. Even so many years later, you have to be impressed that Mendonsa was able to ambush a random woman, kiss her in front of his girlfriend, and end up as a national icon (rather than being kicked to the curb).
