Couple Behind Magical War Memorial Pic Speaks Out: ‘It Wasn’t a Proposal’
- Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:23am by
Liz Klimas
- Print »
- Email »
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.
(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)
Comments (48)
Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 678 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 529 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 417 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 373 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 329 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 271 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 280 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 157 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 147 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 271 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Searchingforthelight
Posted on July 19, 2012 at 5:50pmOh yes, a man in uniform. Gets to my heart every time.
Report Post »beachcomber1017
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:19pmI 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 Post »holy ghostbuster
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:19pmBusted! His wife is going to be pissed.
Report Post »sndrman
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 6:37pmreality show to follow
Report Post »Hill60
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 4:17pmPhotographer was out of line.
Report Post »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.
GenOptimus
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 6:06pmIf 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 Post »holy ghostbuster
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:20pmI‘ll bet his wife isn’t too happy.
Report Post »RRFlyer
Posted on July 19, 2012 at 9:32amI 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 Post »TreeTrimmerJim
Posted on July 19, 2012 at 10:29amConsider 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 Post »hifi74
Posted on July 19, 2012 at 11:33pmWell 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 Post »macpappy
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 1:10pmWho cares. You are wasting space with this nonsense.
Report Post »HellPhish89
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 1:44pmyou must have a sad life… yeesh.
Report Post »BenInNY
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 3:02pmWho cares, you’re wasting space with your comment :P
Report Post »GenOptimus
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 6:08pm@mcraphead You are wasting precious space on the planet.
Report Post »ChevalierdeJohnstone
Posted on July 19, 2012 at 4:54amI love you commenters. You’re so pithy and intellectually brilliant and charitably kind-hearted! What a stirring example of real discussion and sharing of ideas!
Report Post »Karron
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 1:06pmJust 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 Post »dlc137
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 11:31amAm 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 Post »King David
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 11:33amagree
Report Post »FlamingFartSyndrome
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 12:20pmYour not alone.
Report Post »mrtgraz
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 12:23pmIn 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 Post »lthm
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 12:51pmWhy 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 Post »PeachyinGA
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 2:34pmI 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 Post »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 Post »USPATRIOT101
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 10:27amI don’t care about this story.
Report Post »PatrickHenryFan
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 10:33amSure you do, or you would not have taken time to write about it. When I do not care about something, I do not need to take the time talk or write about it
Report Post »USPATRIOT101
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 11:05amI was waiting for this exact response. People are so predictable. Thanks for playing along.
Report Post »CafeConservative
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 11:16amPHF, spot on.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 10:17amIt was nice to see them redo their vows; now give them their peace.
Report Post »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 Post »CafeConservative
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 11:16amRetarded comment or failed joke?
Report Post »battles
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:41amThis 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 Post »RightUnite
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:52amOh please!! Not sure where your getting your information, but that just isn’t true…. Nice theatrics though.
Report Post »jarwheel
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 10:05amDid 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 Post »CafeConservative
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 11:17amBattles, suggest you change your name to Battles-Don‘tKnowHowToPick’Em.
Report Post »HummingbirdHaveYouHeard
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 12:36pmBattles will never find the right one since he can never be the right one himself.
Report Post »RLTW
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:39amIt’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 Post »King David
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 11:29amI 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 Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:37amAt 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 Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:37am…
Report Post »Angila Golik, next time, mind your own business and just walk away.
No one wants their private moments to be photographed.
Legalette
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:43amPrivate moments out in the open in a public place??
Report Post »grams09
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:34amHey 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 Post »spirited
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 10:35amMe, me, me, me, meeeeee
:^O >An opera singer
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:34amCongratulations to the happy couple! May God bless them with many, many happy years together.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:44amMake that many, many happy and PRIVATE years together.
Report Post »battles
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 10:04amThis 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.
Report Post »The destructive divorce cycle continues on.
biohazard23
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 10:35amWow, 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 Post »momrules
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 9:28amYes, 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 Post »hi
Posted on July 18, 2012 at 10:16amThat is especially true if one accidently kills 20 acres of lawn before a fundraiser!
Report Post »