MICHIGAN, N.D. — On a yellowed piece of newsprint, three young women are frozen mid-laughter with arms linked and faces aglow as they wade through a sea of confetti on Broadway in New York City.

It was May 8, 1945 — Victory in Europe Day. Germany had surrendered. Across the country, people erupted in joy. Office paper rained down from skyscraper windows amid hugs, tears and spontaneous parades.

The photo caption read: “WAVES sail through sea of paper on Broadway.”

The women are identified as WAVES — members of the Navy’s Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service. Lt. Adda Jane Patterson of Pennsylvania, Ensign Adelaide “Addie” McManus of New York and Ensign Rose Ellen Wilson of California, had been temporarily assigned to New York City after serving together at the Naval Research L

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