Katy Perry kissed a Waterford Marine and she liked it WITH VIDEO
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Katy Perry picked Marine Lt. Cpl. Thomas Smith, a 2010 graduate of Waterford Kettering, out of the audience during her Wednesday night performance during Fleet Week. Photo submitted by Sara Robb.
By MONICA DRAKEOf The Oakland Pressmonica.drake@oakpress.com; Twitter: @monica_adele
Katy Perry is pictured kissing Marine Lt. Cpl. Thomas Smith, a 2010 graduate of Waterford Kettering, at her performance in Brooklyn, New York on Wednesday. Photo submitted by Sara Robb.
When Marine LCpl. Thomas Smith, a 2010 Waterford Kettering graduate, found out he was seeing singer Katy Perry in concert during Fleet Week in New York City, the first thing he said was, Im going to ask her to marry me.
This seemed like a long shot to his mother, Waterford resident Sara Robb. She was surprised when, soon after, she received a text message from her son saying, I kissed her. I havent gotten an answer whether or not shell marry me yet.
Several celebrities, such as country singer Trace Adkins and duo Montgomery Gentry, have visited Pier 9 in Brooklyn, New York to perform for servicemen and women during the annual Fleet Week. Robb said Smith, 20, was most excited to see Katy Perry, who hes had a crush on for years.
Any military member she would have pulled on stage would have deserved it. As a mom,! yeah, I 'm glad she picked him, said Robb.
Robb said Perry made a comment to the audience on Wednesday night that the guys get lonely, and if someone let her wear his hat, she would reward him. LCpl. Smith's friends lifted him up in the air, and she invited him on stage.
As soon as Smith got up on stage, Perry said, You know where one of the most iconic pictures took place? You know which one I'm talking about in New York City. Do you want to do it? Do you promise you won't drop me?
Smith hardly skipped a beat as he dipped Perry and kissed her on the lips.
His mom said, He is in heaven. This is a dream come true for him.
Part of me was shocked, and the other part of me was so excited for him. I can only imagine how high he must be flying over there. Continued...
Smith kissing Perry has become national news and has been reported on by US Magazine, CNN and MTV News. He arrived in New York with the rest of his fleet Wednesday and is staying until Tuesday, May 29.
Smith enlisted in the Marines when he was 17, and left for boot camp only two weeks after his high school graduation from Waterford Kettering. He returned to America from Afghanistan, where he was stationed for seven months, on Christmas Eve 2011. Hes currently stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. When he returns to camp, Smith will continue training for his next deployment.
That was seven months of pretty much no sleep, because I worried constantly. I might hear from him three days in a row, and then I'd go four weeks and not hear a peep about him, said Robb.
Robb said her son has wanted to be in the Marines since he was five years old, when he decided to be a Marine for Halloween, wearing dress blues and his grandfather's medals.
I was very proud of him, said Robb.
Smith said his grandfather, Thomas Robb, who he was named after, inspired him! to be i n the Marines. Thomas Robb served in World War II.
My husband Jeff (Laming) says hes a hero, Smiths mother said.
Contact Monica Drake at 248-745-4687 or email her at monica.drake@oakpress.com. Find her on Twitter at monica_adele.