On our way out of Washington DC we stopped by the Iwo Jima Memorial. The memorial was created to honor our marines who fought for our country. Around the monument is the names of all the conflicts and battles that the marines have fought in. The monument itself is of the flag raising that occurred on February 23, 1945 on Iwo Jima. Five marines and a navy sailor raised a second flag on Mount Suribachi. The flag raising was photographed by Joe Rosenthal. This photograph became a symbol the marines and of the war.
The men in the photograph were Sgt. Michael Strank, Cpl. Harlon H. Block, Pfc. Franklin R. Sousley, Pfc. Rene A. Gagnon, Pfc. Ira Hayes, and PhM. 2/c John H. Bradley.
Sgt. Michael Strank - died 1945 on Iwo Jima, Japan
Cpl. Harlon H. Block - died 1945 on Iwo Jima, Japan
Pfc. Franklin R. Sousley - died on March 21, 1945 on Iwo Jima, Japan
Pfc. Rene A. Gagnon - survived the war and died on October 12, 1979. He is buried in Arlington
National Cemetery.
Pfc. Ira Hayes - survived the war but had a hard time being labeled as a hero. He felt that the
heroes of Iwo Jima fought and died on the battlefield.
PhM. 2/c John H. Bradley - He survived the war and returned home. He was married for 47
years and had eight children. He died on January 11, 1944.
The memorial was designed by Horace W. Peaslee and was dedicated on November 10, 1954 by President Eisenhower. The figures are 32 feet high holding a 60 foot flagpole. A cloth flag hangs from the flagpole.
On the memorial is inscribed "In honor and in memory of the men of the United States Marine Corps who have given their lives to their country since November 10, 1775."
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