So it won't become as iconic as the famous kiss between a sailor and a nurse in Times Square on the day that Japan surrendered during World War II.
But this week's smooch between a female sailor and her girlfriend is getting quite a bit of attention (including on today's Bee front page) -- and is emblematic of the U.S. military coming to terms with the end of "don't ask, don't tell."
That's a good thing.
It's a small, but symbolic, indication that the transition is going relatively smoothly. That was one of the big questions when the repeal of the 18-year policy -- which banned service members from openly acknowledging that they are gay -- took effect in September.
One of the last defenses for don't ask, don't tell fell apart last year when the Pentagon said that it could be ended with minimal impact to readiness or unit cohesion. That conclusion was unveiled by the Pentagon's top leaders when they urged Congress to do away with the law, saying that legislation followed by an orderly transition was far preferable to an immediate change forced by a court order.
The Bee's editorial board was among the voices calling for the repeal of what it called the "discriminatory, destructive" law.
It's a Navy tradition that one returning sailor is chosen to be first off the ship for a kiss. Wednesday, when the USS Oak Hill docked in Virginia Beach, Va., the chosen one was Petty Officer Marissa Gaeta of Placerville. She met her partner, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell of Los Angeles, who serves aboard another ship and was in civilian dress.
The Oak Hill's commanding officer didn't make a big deal out of it. But it was to Gaeta.
"It's nice to be able to be myself," she told reporters afterwards. "It's been a long time coming."
