Edith Shain, the nurse whose Times Square kiss with a young sailor was captured in an iconic World War II photograph celebrating the end of the war, has died at the age of 91. According to Reuters, the great-grandmother of eight died at her home in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Jun 23
2010
08:16 AM ET
Edith Shain, patriotic icon of Times Square kiss, dies
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Rest in peace
rest in piece Edith!!!
What must it be like, to be a living, breathing icon, without the name-recognition of the typical celebrity? Any time she shopped for greeting cards, she likely saw one with her pic on it… RIP, ES
The interesting thing is that when people have actually analyzed the photo, it appears that he just grabbed her and forced the kiss on her. She doesn’t appear to be enjoying or welcoming it at all. An iconic image to be sure, but whereas it was portrayed to the masses as a moment of joy, it doesn’t quite appear to be the case upon closer inspection.
Oh, lord, here we go. He did surprise her. But it was happening up and down the street. People were celebrating the END WORST war in history.
Shain:
“The street was just wild with people. It was exuberant. They were dashing around and hugging and kissing and we walked in on that. And a sailor grabbed me and held me and kissed me a long time.
“When he grabbed me, I didn’t see him, and when he kissed me, I didn’t see him because I closed my eyes. And then I turned around and walked the other way.
“That’s the only contact I had with the gentleman. We never exchanged a word. I don’t know if he looked at me. Maybe he didn’t even look at me.
“I was very happy to be there and listen to the roar, that’s the way it sounded. Everybody jumping around, screaming and yelling and so happy and smiling and they were just thrilled like I was.”
Come on, this isn’t an average day in New York with a random stranger pouncing on an unsuspecting woman. It’s a party celebrating the greatest collective relief probably ever known to man. Everyone in the photo is experiencing a joy you and I will likely never know.
In honor of Edith I ask that women across this country go out and find some of our boys in uniform and give’em some. I don’t think this is a difficult request for us guys.
John,
What a great idea! I already do this, I am married to a man in uniform
This photo still makes me smile. RIP
Why would you not add the pic to this post? If no editor, but wouldn’t that kind of make sense?
I’m…