Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough on Tuesday abruptly lifted a week-old ban on displays of the iconic photo of a Navy sailor kissing a nurse in celebration of the end of World War II.
The U-turn came hours after the policy was revealed online as an example of woke sensibilities run wild.
The original ban was circulated internally Feb. 29 at the department, ordering all VA health care facilities around the country to “promptly” remove the famous image because it reflected sexual harassment.
“The photograph, which depicts a nonconsensual act, is inconsistent with the VA’s no-tolerance policy toward sexual harassment and assault,” RimaAnn O. Nelson, the VA’s assistant undersecretary of health for operations, wrote in announcing the original ban. “To foster a more trauma-informed environment that promotes the psychological safety of our employees and the veterans we serve, photographs depicting the ‘V-J Day in Times Square’ should be removed from all Veterans Health Administration facilities.”
The memo concluded, “Your cooperation in this matter is vital.”
An X account by user End Wokeness posted the two-page original memo Tuesday, prompting Mr. McDonough‘s reversal.
The incident is likely to provide additional fodder for conservative critics of the Biden administration’s push for equity and inclusion at the Pentagon and VA.
The Republican-led House Committee on Veterans Affairs wrote on the panel’s social media page as the flap unfolded: “We still have serious questions about who at VA thought potentially banning this photo would be a good idea in the first place.”
The photo in question, one of the most famous images from the war, was taken by Life photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt. It shows a U.S. sailor embracing a woman in New York’s Times Square at an August 1945 parade celebrating the surrender of Japan that ended the war.
Mr. McDonough wrote Tuesday on X, “This image is not banned from VA facilities — and we will keep it in VA facilities.”
VA officials told The Washington Times that the memo shouldn’t have been sent out and was formally rescinded Tuesday. It wasn’t known if other senior department leaders knew of the memo before it was issued.
In her original memo, Ms. Nelson said the move was being made because attitudes have shifted since the victory-celebrating image was taken.
Displaying the photo at VA hospitals and health facilities “was initially intended to celebrate and commemorate the end of World War II and the triumphant return of American soldiers,” she wrote. “However, perspectives on historical events and their representations evolve.”
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
• David R. Sands can be reached at dsands@washingtontimes.com.