Assignment 4 - Julian Perry

On the morning of December 7th, 1941, America was thrust into a second world war. This was a day of silence, of pain, of remembrance even today. Four years later, the war was over. A bloodied army marched no more. A tired navy set sights for home. A nation could finally breath a sigh of relief. This iconic photograph, first appearing in Life Magazine in 1945, shows a sailor's embrace of a long-missed loved one. While ironically, the two people in this picture were actually complete strangers, it still encompasses an entire country's feelings perfectly. The excitement of being home, families being brought together again, was overwhelming for many (making some want to kiss the closest stranger). Everyone knew someone overseas, or at least they knew someone who knew someone overseas.
Beyond this picture is a celebratory nation . Americans were out in the streets, or in their homes with their whole family for the first time in years. National pride was abundant, and happiness as well. The love and joy portrayed in this picture reflects it perfectly. This picture ended the America at war, and reinstated the America that made Americans proud.