We previously reported about a Biden official trying to ban an iconic image from World War II.
An internal memo from the Veterans Health Administration’s top operations official, RimaAnn Nelson, directed VA medical facilities to remove any depictions of this famous photo. The reason? It was argued that the image, portraying a non-consensual act, contradicts the VA’s stringent no-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment and assault.
EXCLUSIVE:
The Department Of Veterans Affairs just BANNED the V-J Day kiss photo from all department facilities.
“To promote a culture of inclusivity and awareness… your cooperation is vital.” pic.twitter.com/MZfNHbpV76
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) March 5, 2024
Just hours after the story broke, Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough stepped in to overrule the planned ban, ensuring that the photograph would remain in VA facilities.
“This image is not banned from VA facilities — and we will keep it in VA facilities,” said a post from his official X account. Department officials echoed in a separate statement that “VA will NOT be banning this photo from VA facilities.”
Let me be clear: This image is not banned from VA facilities – and we will keep it in VA facilities. pic.twitter.com/dYSikLxHAJ
— Secretary Denis McDonough (@SecVetAffairs) March 5, 2024
The woman in this legendary photo, was identified as Greta Friedman in 2012. Her granddaughter, Caroline Branin, has spoken up saying that Greta never felt violated by that unexpected kiss. Instead, she saw it as a celebration of peace, a jubilant marker of the war’s end. Despite the recent debates and a controversial attempt by the Department of Veterans Affairs to ban the image from its facilities, citing it as a “non-consensual act,” this photograph remains a testament to a historical moment of joy and relief.
Branin let on that the photo has been targeted by the woke for a while.
“At college I had a women and gender studies teacher who showed that image and said: ‘This is a sexual assault,” Branin said. “I put my hand up and said that’s actually my grandma, she didn’t view it that way. The teacher disagreed with me.”
The man in the photo’s name is George Mendonsa.
“It was a spontaneous moment. George’s wife is in the background of the image, she’s laughing,” Branin added. “George wanted to thank the nurses for saving his life so he kissed my grandmother.”
Caroline Branin With her grandmother Greta Friedman
Greta Friedman was born in Austria, she fled the horrors of the Nazi regime with her sisters, seeking refuge in America, leaving their parents behind.
At 21, living in Queens and working as a dental assistant, Greta encountered George Mendonsa, a sailor who, in a moment of drunken jubilation, captured an embrace that would immortalize them both. It wasn’t until years later, when she saw the photograph in Life magazine that she recognized herself in that embrace. This revelation did not tarnish her view of the photograph; instead, it cemented her pride in being part of such a powerful symbol of peace.
Greta’s life story, from fleeing tyranny to becoming an emblem of victory and joy, is a testament to the resilience and strength of those who lived through the war. Her friendship with Mendonsa, maintained until the end of their lives.
