OLD GLORY PLANTED ON MOUNT SURIBACHI
Iwo Jima* (JFK+50) On February 23, 1945, United States Marines captured the crest of Iwo Jima's highest peak, Mount Suribachi. Marines of the 3rd platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Division raised a pair of American flags at the top.
The first flag raisers were photographed by Louis Lowery. A few hours later a second flag raising was photographed by Joe Rosenthal**. The latter photograph became the most famous of World War II and served as the model for the United States Marine Corps Memorial.***
On the base of the memorial is a quote from Admiral Chester Nimitz who honored the American Marines on Iwo Jima...
"Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue"
The six flag raisers who are depicted in the memorial include...
Ira Hayes
Iwo Jima* (JFK+50) On February 23, 1945, United States Marines captured the crest of Iwo Jima's highest peak, Mount Suribachi. Marines of the 3rd platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Division raised a pair of American flags at the top.
The first flag raisers were photographed by Louis Lowery. A few hours later a second flag raising was photographed by Joe Rosenthal**. The latter photograph became the most famous of World War II and served as the model for the United States Marine Corps Memorial.***
President John F. Kennedy issued a proclamation in 1961 which provides for the American Flag to fly from the memorial 24 hours a day. The US Marine Corps War Memorial honors all Marines who have died in battle since 1775.
On the base of the memorial is a quote from Admiral Chester Nimitz who honored the American Marines on Iwo Jima...
"Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue"
The six flag raisers who are depicted in the memorial include...
Ira Hayes
Franklin Sousley
John Bradley
Harlon Block
Michael Strank
Rene Gagnon.
*Iwo Jima is located 750 miles south of Tokyo, Japan. It was originally called Sulphur Island & is 8 square miles in size. The US military occupied IJ until 1968 when it was returned to Japan.
**Joseph John Rosenthal (1911-2006) was born in Washington, D.C. He became a reporter-photographer for The San Francisco News in 1932. JJR attended the University of San Francisco & later worked for the Associated Press as a photographer in WWII. JJR won the Pulitzer Prize for his photo titled "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima".
**Joseph John Rosenthal (1911-2006) was born in Washington, D.C. He became a reporter-photographer for The San Francisco News in 1932. JJR attended the University of San Francisco & later worked for the Associated Press as a photographer in WWII. JJR won the Pulitzer Prize for his photo titled "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima".
***USMC Memorial is located in Arlington, Virginia. It was dedicated by President Eisenhower in 1954. It is the work of architect Felix de Weldon. The memorial's Marine figures are 32 feet high & the bronze flagpole is 60' high.
United States Marine Corps Memorial
Arlington, Virginia
Photo by Catie Drew (2008)
