Dancing in the Rain: The Kissing Sailor

1945 | On August 14, 1945 — VJ Day — a jubilant sailor plants a kiss on a nurse in Times Square to celebrate the Allies’ long- awaited World War II victory over Japan. Originally published (not as a cover shot, as most people assume today, but as just one in a series of “VJ Day victory celebration” images featured in the middle of the magazine) in the August 27, 1945, issue of LIFE.

I've known for several months that he was going to be in Granbury for the Memorial Day Parade. I have also realized that I must be a big nerd, because none of my surrounding friends/family were quite as interested and excited as I. Nevertheless it was important to me to take advantage, and even though she will not remember, so Braylin can one day say she saw The Kissing Sailor on the Granbury town square. Leading up to the day, I had imagined this awesome Kodak moment where he would hold Braylin and kiss her cheek for a picture... but I guess I didn't consider that he is NOT a young man anymore and would be riding in a float. (Silly me with great expectations).
So we settled for stopping their car in the parade, quickly introducing Braylin, getting a close-up pic of our Sailor, Mr. Glenn McDuffie, all while really upsetting the local police force because we ran across the road during the parade. Whew! But we got it! Satisfied and even more enthusiastic, I came home and researched the famous picture taken on that glorious day of victory. I found that nobody even knew who the sailor and nurse were in the picture for many, many years. Of course many men and woman claimed to be that handsome sailor but not until 2007 did they identify who they were pretty positive matched-up, according to forensics-- which would be our Mr McDuffie. You can do your own research and decide what you think... but we ARE PRETTY SURE WE MET THE REAL, DEAL, KISSING SAILOR today!! I have provided a few interesting links below about him:

ABC News Article about McDuffie
Interesting Article about proving his identity as the sailor in picture

What a great way to celebrate Memorial Day.

Braylin looking on at the ONE float we couldn't wait for...

THERE HE IS! (passenger)
Everybody kept stopping his car for pictures and... KISSES.

AND HERE IS OUR PICTURE OF THE SAILOR HIMSELF!
It was too fast and furious, and I had lost Jared momentarily, so Braylin and I just had to
snap a picture. BUT if you look very hard, you can see our reflection in his
sunglasses.

A FEW MORE PICTURES FROM THE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE!