Massive ‘Kiss Off’ Raises Money for World War II Memorial

ROYAL OAK, MI — How’s your supply of lip balm? You’ll want to soften up your luscious lips in preparation for “Kiss the War Goodbye,” an event to be held in Royal Oak on Sunday, the 71st anniversary of the World War II. Legions of people are expected to re-enact the war-ending kiss depicted in the 25-foot “Embracing Peace” statue.

Sculptor Seward Johnson’s statue is on temporary loan in Royal Oak, the future home of the The Michigan WWII Legacy Memorial. It is based on the famous LIFE magazine photograph of a lip-locked couple taken in New York’s Times Square by Alfred Eisenstaedt on Aug. 14, 1945, when word spread that Japan had surrendered and World War II was finally over.

The Michigan WWII Legacy Committee is billing Sunday’s event, to be held at the future site of the memorial at the corner of Woodward Avenue and 13 Mile Road, as a “massive re-enactment.”

The formal program begins at 1:30 p.m. with brief remarks on the baseball diamond adjacent to the sculpture, followed by the re-enactment at 2 p.m.

“What a great way to celebrate the anniversary of the end of the war,” Debi Hollis, president of the WWII Legacy Memorial organization, said in a news release. “We are looking forward to a huge turnout.”

The kissers and spectators are encouraged to dress as sailors and nurses or World War II-era clothing. The program also features World War II veterans, former Rosie the Riveter workers and re-enactors, merchandise sales and discounted “Walk of Honor” bricks that will be used in the memorial.

If you’re unable to attend, you’re encourage to participate virtually by joining the memorial’s social media campaign to recreate the kiss and help raise funds to build the memorial. See kissandtell5.org.

The event is just one of many celebrations going on around the world on “Sprint of ‘45” day in communities that have Seward Johnson sculptures depicting the Times Square Kiss. See www.spiritof45.org for details.

When it is complete, The Michigan WWII Legacy Memorial will provide a year-round multi-purpose destination that will tell Michigan’s unique story while encouraging visitors to both commemorate and celebrate their freedom.

“It will also serve as an inspiration for future generations, enlightening us all about these hallmarks of remarkable patriotism, selfless sacrifices and extraordinary devotion to liberty that helped save the world,” Hollis said