Iwo+Jima

=Iwo Jima= Andrew

The battle of Iwo Jima took place on February 19, 1945. About 70,000 marines invaded the small island of Iwo Jima, that lie in the Pacific Ocean. By capturing the islands the marines would be able to prevent kamikaze attacks and it would give the allied forces a base from where the Japanese mainland could be reached. The sculpture is based on Joe Rosenthal's picture of six men raising the American flag at Iwo Jima. Of those six only three survived, the rest were killed in further battle at Iwo Jima. Rosenthol's picture inspire sculptor Felix DeWeldon to create a life size model of the photograph. The statue was paid for by donations and was built out of bronze. In September 1954 the statue was brought to Washington, D.C. as part of a memorial designed by Horace Peaslee. The statue stands 32feet high with figures holding a 60 foot flag pole on a 10 foot base. All of the major Marine Corps engagements since 1775 are inscribed on it. The memorial is located near the Arlington cemetery, across the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. www.aviewoncities.com

www.aviewoncities.com

www.virgil.org