A Santa Fe veteran who fought on Iwo Jima in 1945, and has the sand and flags to prove it; and a Houston sailor who stole a kiss from nurse in Time Square that same year on V-J Day will be guests at COM’s annual Veterans Day Salute November 8 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the COM Library. Ivan Hammond of Santa Fe was a 19-year-old Marine in February and March 1945 when he fought in one of the fiercest battles of World War II where the raising of the flag by Marines and a Navy corpsman became an iconic image of the battle and perhaps the most reproduced photograph of all time. Glenn McDuffie of Houston was himself featured in perhaps the second most reproduced photo of the war, the V-J Day kiss. Last summer, with the help of a forensic artist, McDuffie made the case that he was indeed the man in the famous photograph.

Both men will share their stories at COM Thursday, Nov. 8. As always, the public is invited to attend and show its appreciation for all veterans.