~The Calm After the Storm~

nobody@flickr.com (cheryl c.) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 06:31:59 -0700

cheryl c. posted a photo:

The mysteries of the sea...at once, beautiful and healing. Then on the turn of a dime, fierce and frightening...tearing up the land and reminding us that life has many ups and downs.
I go to the sea when I need peace and meditation...
This lighthouse is one of my favorites, in the city where I was brought up..
Wishing you all the beauty of a calming sea this week.

~The Kiss~

nobody@flickr.com (cheryl c.) — Sat, 26 May 2012 17:18:54 -0700

cheryl c. posted a photo:

“Unconditional Surrender,” a 25-foot, 6,000 pound statue by world-renowned artist J. Seward Johnson commemorating a famous World War II photo was unveiled Feb. 10 at Mole Park in San Diego.

Unconditional Surrender is a three-dimensional interpretation of a photo taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt of a Sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square, New York City on Aug. 14, 1945, following the announcement of V-J Day.

Edith Shain, the nurse memorialized in Eisenstaedt’s photo, and members of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association Inc., attended the ceremony along with hundreds of San Diego residents.

“This statue brings back so many memories of peace, love and happiness,” said Shain. “There is so much romance in the statue; it gives such a feeling of hope to all who look at it.”

“During the moment of the kiss I don’t remember much, it happened so fast and it happened at the perfect time. I didn’t even look at the Sailor who was kissing me,” Shain continued. “I closed my eyes and enjoyed the moment like any woman would have done.”

Sailors attending the ceremony had the opportunity to meet the woman pictured in the photograph famous throughout the Navy community, and the world.

“This sculpture represents hope and freedom,” said Quartermaster Seaman Hannah R. Salyer, PCU Green Bay (LPD-20).

“It’s a classic symbol of a Sailor. I can’t put into words the honor it is to meet the woman that was in the photograph and to be a part of the official ceremony for such an amazing piece of work,” continued Salyer.

The ceremony also included World War II era dances and music, and gave people a chance to meet the lady from the famous photograph. Many attendees paid their respects to Shain and other Pearl Harbor survivors.

“This photo and statue still moves me to this day,” said former USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) Sailor Arthur A. Kowalski. “It’s nice to know that people haven’t forgotten about that moment in history. This moment is so precious and can never be duplicated.”

I was so moved when I saw this photo on my recent trip to San Diego. I stared at it for such a long time and then took photo's...One of the reasons it was so compelling is that it was at the end of World War 11 and I realized that this couple could have been my Mom and Dad... A part of their history that I really did not know much about. After reading about "The Kiss"...I realized how young and how much in love my parents must have been...You see, My Dad was in the Navy at this time...and not so far away. He was in Seattle, Washington and my Mom had gone to see him. Then they eloped.

Mom and Dad here Today: cherylcrotty.squarespace.com/blog/

To all our Veterans then and now...Thank You... Happy Memorial Day.

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~The Calm After the Storm~

~The Kiss~