As she stood on her tiptoes in high heel boots, she even unknowingly kicked one leg up back behind her as their lips met, and held. It was a moment to behold. The VanHoose's did not even notice us standing mere feet away, embarrassingly documenting this most tender of reunions.

Justin began the sentence, Laurelin ended it for him: "I think we're both in a little shock right now....(Justin)" "... to actually be able to touch him, to have his actual self here (Laurelin)."
Her fingers clutched his hair, brushed his cheek, as if gathering evidence to confirm the end of their seven-month purgatory.

It was one of the most touching reunions I've witnessed out of the dozens covered in my fifteen year career-- and I told them so.

"She looks beautiful, doesn't she?" said Justin, as he kissed Laurelin yet again. "Yes," I replied, "she truly does. "

"I can't help myself," Justin VanHoose said adoringly.

While no license is required for such an openly public display of affection, the VanHooses do have one: They've been married ten months. But after enjoying only three months as newlyweds, Sailor Justin VanHoose was sent to Iraq with his unit, Electronic Attack Squadron 132.

After seven intense months, their October 6 reunion at NAS Whidbey marked their long-desired return to cohabitation, after a gulf thousands of miles wide separated them.

Further reflection on the beauty of the VanHoose's affection recalled to mind another famous reunion captured by photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt, V.J. Day, "The Kiss - 1945."
http://www.gallerym.com/images/work/big/eisenstaedt_alfred_M2_vj_day_lasiter_16x20_L.jpg

The body language of the unsuspecting nurse receiving a kiss from a mysterious sailor is more descriptive than an entire novel. One is mesmerized by the perfection of that frozen moment in black and white. Eisenstaedt's photo came to symbolize America's joy at the end of World War II.

Likewise, no words can adequately express the shine in Laurelin's eyes, nor the hint of mischief in her husband's dimples. I can't wait to see the VanHoose's expression of joy, when the end to the current war is announced.