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June 6, 2025 35 mins
101 yr old Bea Franklin (at the time of interview on June 4, 2025), born June 30. 1924, is probably the only living eyewitness to the iconic 1945 Times Square sailor kisses nurse scene captured in an iconic photo seen around the world til this very day.  When the Emperor of Japan announced the Japanese surrender ending World War II, on Tuesday Aug 14, 1945, Bea was a student at New York University. When she heard the news that Japan surrendered...8 days after the atomic bomb exploded, she & her classmates took a subway uptown to Times Square where she actually witnessed the iconic 'Kiss' seen around the world.   In this historic and inspiring interview we discuss: -When did she realize she witnessed one of the most famous scenes in history -What made her decide to go to Times Square that day -How Bea is the daughter of Jack, one of the four Pep Boys automotive chain founders. -Her secrets to STILL living a fulfilling life - Recollections of her late husband's rare World War II photos -How she has lived in the same Long island house since 1958 with the same Landline phone! -How she survived and thrived with three different cancers -What she is most proud of in your life -What are her biggest regrets -What makes her happy and brings her the most joy -What would she recommends the average person do to Be Happier and Live Longer -Centenarian Bea is also a heterochromatic: has one Blue eye & one Brown eye . . . a trait found in less than 200,000 US humans. -Bea is a former school librarian,  & was married to Corporal Jerry Franklin for 51 years . . .They met Nov 4, 1945 & married (eloped) Nov 30, 1945 -What the most important "secret" is to overcoming devastating illness or other really bad news
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