The photograph of a soldier kissing a nurse in Times Square, snapped on Aug.15, 1945, is often seen as a symbol for the end of World War II. The sculpture version, created by artist Seward Johnson, is making a visit to Normandy, France, where it will remain for a year, reported Military Times.
According to CBS News, the photo featured George Mendonsa, a WWII sailor, and Greta Friedman, a dental assistant who, on her lunch break, had stumbled upon the jubilant end-of-war celebration. The two didn't know each other, but Mendonsa, who mistook Friedman as a nurse in her white uniform, planted a kiss on her anyway. The photo was published in Life magazine, and the two reconnected again in 1980, more than 30 years after the image was captured, noted the source.
The sculptural rendition of the now classic image, which is owned by the nonprofit organization the Sculpture Foundation, stands at 25 feet and is made of bronze, noted Military Times. While the original photo is black and white, the statue is in full color. It will stand outside the Caen Museum, an institution memorializing WWII.