Washington: The US Department of Veterans Affairs has rescinded a department memorandum aimed at banning departmental display of the famous “VJ's Day in Times Square” photo of a Navy sailor kissing a stranger on the streets of New York at the end of World War II.
Secretary Denis McDonough acted hours after a copy of a memo from an assistant undersecretary requesting the image be removed from all Virginia health facilities was shared on social media.
The memo said the photo “depicts a non-consensual act” and does not comply with the department’s sexual harassment policy.
Without consent: The famous “kiss” photo taken in New York City's Times Square, as sailors and citizens celebrated the end of World War II.credit: Alfred Eisenstadt
McDonough tweeted a version of the photo that appeared in life The magazine added: “Let me be clear: This photo is not prohibited in VA facilities — and we will keep it in VA facilities.”
Two people familiar with the memo confirmed it was authentic and said McDonough never approved it and canceled it as soon as he was informed it had been sent. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
“The Department of Veterans Affairs will not ban this photo,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday. “I can definitely say that the memo was not approved, and therefore it is not something we were aware of.”
Copies of the memo received millions of views on social media and quickly became a political foil.
The photo was taken on August 14, 1945, known as VJ Day, the day Japan surrendered to the United States, as people poured into the streets of New York City from restaurants, bars and movie theaters, celebrating the news. Jorge Mendonça spotted Greta Friedman, spun her around and blew a kiss. The two have never met.
