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Couple Behind Magical War Memorial Pic Speaks Out: ‘It Wasn’t a Proposal’

Jul. 18, 2012 9:23am
Washington War Memorial Mystery Couple Say They Were Already Engaged When the Now Viral Photograph Was Taken

The couple in this viral photograph have issued a statement saying they would like their identity to remain private. (Photo: Angila Golik)

The Blaze recently brought you the viral photograph of a couple that appeared to have just gotten engaged at the Washington War Memorial in Washington, D.C. The photographer, Angila Golik, brought the tender moment to the Internet in her quest to identify the couple and deliver the images.

On Monday, we wondered how long it would take social and traditional media to help to bring the couple forward. Well, it only took about a day, but their identity still remains a secret. The Today Show featured Golik and reported a statement Tuesday made through the Air Force on behalf of the couple, who wished to remain unidentified and private.

Washington War Memorial Mystery Couple Say They Were Already Engaged When the Now Viral Photograph Was Taken

(Photo: Angila Golik)

Air Force Lt. Colonel Ann Knabe said that the couple was “delighted that this intimate moment at the War Memorial has brought warmth and inspiration to many hearts.” But as many were assuming that the scene was that of a proposal, Knabe said “The Air Force member was not proposing to his fiancée…at least not for the first time, as they had become engaged two weeks prior to these photos.”

Knabe elaborated that the couple was seeking out locations for their actual marriage ceremony at the time the photograph was taken.

“The photographer happened to catch the couple acting as if they were reciting their vows in the middle of the memorial and re-living their sweet moment from two weeks prior,” Knabe continued. “Though this was in a public place, the couple asks for their privacy to be respected, so that they can plan their wedding out of the public eye.”

As for Golik’s search, Today reports she is happy the case is closed.

“I actually have a quite busy life I need to get back to,” Golik told Today.

Watch Golik on the show before the Air Force released its statement:

(H/T: Daily Mail)

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Comments (48)

  • Searchingforthelight
    Posted on July 19, 2012 at 5:50pm

    Oh yes, a man in uniform. Gets to my heart every time.

    Report this comment

    Searchingforthelight  
  • beachcomber1017
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:19pm

    I remember reading about that famous photo of the sailor kissing the nurse in Times Square at the end of World War 2, it took years to find them. Do you think by taking this picture she wanted to make money or just become famous?

    Report this comment

    beachcomber1017  
  • holy ghostbuster
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:19pm

    Busted! His wife is going to be pissed.

    Report this comment

    holy ghostbuster  
  • sndrman
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 6:37pm

    reality show to follow

    Report this comment

    sndrman  
  • Hill60
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 4:17pm

    Photographer was out of line.
    Sure – public space – no expectation of privacy etc. I get it.
    But to take the pictures of an intimate moment – then post them on line hoping to find out who the couple is? Mind your own business – leave people be. What a snoop.

    Report this comment

    Hill60  
    • GenOptimus
      Posted on July 18, 2012 at 6:06pm

      If feel that way then why are reading this story! Shouldn’t you try and be better than everyone else by not even allowing yourself to look upon this terrible encroachment.

      Report this comment

      GenOptimus  
    • holy ghostbuster
      Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:20pm

      I’ll bet his wife isn’t too happy.

      Report this comment

      holy ghostbuster  
    • RRFlyer
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 9:32am

      I agree with HILLGO. It’s no one’s business, especially to post it online.

      and GENOPTIMUS do you just wake up hating every morning? Poor liberal, no one to love

      Report this comment

      RRFlyer  
    • TreeTrimmerJim
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 10:29am

      Consider the picture without a story line. Would the picture be more than two people sharing a kiss? From that tact, is the picture about any kind of a right of passage moment?

      Report this comment

      TreeTrimmerJim  
    • hifi74
      Posted on July 19, 2012 at 11:33pm

      Well I understand what ou are getting at I kinda disagree here. It was a rare endearing picture taken, one that she felt warranted identification. She put it out there and asked. Once getting a response via proxy that the couple wished to remain private she dropped it and said that’s good enough. Had she continued to persue it then yeah you would have a point, but she decided to drop it at that point. I see no issue really.

      Report this comment

      hifi74  
  • macpappy
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 1:10pm

    Who cares. You are wasting space with this nonsense.

    Report this comment

    macpappy  
  • Karron
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 1:06pm

    Just remember, people, if you are in a public place, privacy is not expected. Someone is always watching, generally it is big brother government, but someone is always watching.

    Report this comment

    Karron  
  • dlc137
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 11:31am

    Am I the only one who thinks it is just strange for a person to take a picture of total strangers in a private moment and then post it all over the internet???? Did the photography ever stop to think that these people might not want the world to see? Invasion of privacy in a big way.

    Report this comment

    dlc137  
    • King David
      Posted on July 18, 2012 at 11:33am

      agree

      Report this comment

      King David  
    • FlamingFartSyndrome
      Posted on July 18, 2012 at 12:20pm

      Your not alone.

      Report this comment

      FlamingFartSyndrome  
    • mrtgraz
      Posted on July 18, 2012 at 12:23pm

      In the entire scope of invasion of privacy, this is minimal. As a photographer, I can see why the individual took the photo. But if invasion of privacy is a concern here, then you should get rid of your cell phone, email, etc… Congrats to the happy couple.

      Report this comment

      mrtgraz  
    • lthm
      Posted on July 18, 2012 at 12:51pm

      Why would the photographer not post these? Generally speaking in the U.S. you have no reasonable expectation of privacy when you’re in a public place where anyone can see you. Anyone can photograph you, anyone can take video of you and post it anywhere they want. Now, what they cannot do is sell the images of you if a you are easily identifiable from the photos or video–if they are easily identifiable, it would require a model release before the photo could be sold commercially. And, of course, the rules are somewhat different for editorial images and video. News sources are allowed to publish pretty much any image or video they have legal access to, recognizable individuals or not.

      Report this comment

      lthm  
    • PeachyinGA
      Posted on July 18, 2012 at 2:34pm

      I agree. Taking a picture in public is one thing, but to deliberately spread it all over the internet while begging people to contact her with the names of the couple is borderline stalking.

      Report this comment

      PeachyinGA  
  • N37BU6
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 11:25am

    “I actually have a quite busy life I need to get back to”

    I laughed. Hard.

    Report this comment

    N37BU6  
  • USPATRIOT101
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 10:27am

    I don’t care about this story.

    Report this comment

    USPATRIOT101  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 10:17am

    It was nice to see them redo their vows; now give them their peace.

    Report this comment

    Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • BubbaCoop
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 10:04am

    “The couple in this viral photograph have issued a statement saying they would like their identity to remain private.”

    Obviously one of them is cheating

    Report this comment

    BubbaCoop  
  • battles
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:41am

    This was a given, should have known. Most women today don’t want to get married. One night stands or shacking up with a boy friend is enough. Marriage and family just doesn’t fit into the psyche of the wicked women of today.

    Report this comment

    battles  
    • RightUnite
      Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:52am

      Oh please!! Not sure where your getting your information, but that just isn’t true…. Nice theatrics though.

      Report this comment

      RightUnite  
    • jarwheel
      Posted on July 18, 2012 at 10:05am

      Did you even read the article? It wasn’t a proposal because they were already engaged. Really, man you shoulder sad stuff before you comment.

      Report this comment

      jarwheel  
    • CafeConservative
      Posted on July 18, 2012 at 11:17am

      Battles, suggest you change your name to Battles-Don’tKnowHowToPick’Em.

      Report this comment

      CafeConservative  
    • HummingbirdHaveYouHeard
      Posted on July 18, 2012 at 12:36pm

      Battles will never find the right one since he can never be the right one himself.

      Report this comment

      HummingbirdHaveYouHeard  
  • RLTW
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:39am

    It’s very pathetic how so many people feel the need to inject themselves into the private lives others, I hope this truly closes the story but knowing the MSM I would tell this couple to be careful.

    Report this comment

    RLTW  
    • King David
      Posted on July 18, 2012 at 11:29am

      I agree, why do people care? Create some love in your own life and you will not have to worry about others. This story and this photographer make me so mad. Everyone alway has to get involved in other peoples lifes. Mind your own business and leave people alone.

      Report this comment

      King David  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:37am

    At least it wasn’t 2 guys kissing. Wow, what has happened to our society when the first thing I think of when seeing that picture, is at least it’s not a lesbian or gay kiss being sensationalized.

    Report this comment

    Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:37am

    …
    Angila Golik, next time, mind your own business and just walk away.
    No one wants their private moments to be photographed.

    Report this comment

    LeadNotFollow  
  • grams09
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:34am

    Hey Glenn. Please stop repeating previous broadcasts of your radio show during your broadcast. It’s very irritating if you’re a regular listener like I am. I shut the sound off or switch to another station. Thanks.

    Report this comment

    grams09  
  • biohazard23
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:34am

    Congratulations to the happy couple! May God bless them with many, many happy years together.

    Report this comment

     
    • biohazard23
      Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:44am

      Make that many, many happy and PRIVATE years together.

      Report this comment

       
    • battles
      Posted on July 18, 2012 at 10:04am

      This pious platitude will surely be met with a quickie divorce within a very few years. Compliments of the no fault divorce.

      The husband need a wife, but she had her own career plans. She soon decided that she married the wrong guy or doesn’t need him or want him anymore. She doesn’t think that deserting her vows will affect her or her children’s psyche. Her children collapse into despair, their school grades fall, they turn to drugs for relief. She is constantly having to go to the police station to bail her children out. She soon discovers that she needs to fulfill her empty emotional and sexual desires, so she takes on an abusive boyfriend.
      The destructive divorce cycle continues on.

      Report this comment

      battles  
    • biohazard23
      Posted on July 18, 2012 at 10:35am

      Wow, Battles, bitter much? Let it go already. We get it, some woman did you wrong. Not all women are evil and wicked and are out to destroy everything in their path. Some of us actually do love, cherish, and honor our husband, are faithful to him, and put our families ahead of ourselves. Jeez… I hope you find some peace and happiness in your life, whether it’s with a spouse or all by yourself. But carrying around that bitter pill can’t be healthy.

      Just sayin’.

      Report this comment

       
  • momrules
    Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:28am

    Yes, some people in America still want their private lives to remain private. Not everyone is eager to become Youtube sensations.

    Congratulations to the couple. Now leave them alone.

    Report this comment

    momrules  
    • hi
      Posted on July 18, 2012 at 10:16am

      That is especially true if one accidently kills 20 acres of lawn before a fundraiser!

      Report this comment

      hi  

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