Iwo Jima Statue: The United States Marine Corps Memorial

The United States Marine Corps Memorial “bka” Iwo Jima Statue is one the world’s most impactful monuments is built to symbolize the honor we give to our countries men who have fallen protecting the United States of America. This symbolic concrete cast bronze structure was created by, Felix de Weldon in memory of the American Marines who fallen for our country since 1775 dedicated in 1954. Standing at thirty-two feet tall and a flag pole of sixty-feet tall. The Swedish granite base it stands upon with the dates in a burnished gold writing stands in Arlington Virginia, in the United States. The memorial dedicated by president, Dwight Eisenhower; which was designed by designed by Horace Peaslee when it was brought to Washington, DC in 1954 has
a significant role in the contribution to our countries soldiers in one of the most epic battles.
Iwo Jima monumental memorial statute is a statue for all to see to acknowledge the dates and names of the fallen Marine Corp. soldiers during World War II struggling to erect our flag on the battle grounds. This monumental structure is also depicted a memory for all fallen soldiers whom risk their lives in battle to protect our country today.
The battle at Iwo Jima a small island about 660 miles south of Tokyo.
A volcano called Mount Suribachi, which is now extinct, surrounded the ocean where the United States Troops recaptured other islands in the Pacific Ocean that the Japanese took in 1941 and 1942. In 1945 Iwo Jima became the main objective in American plans to bring the Pacific to a successful closure. On February 19, 1945, the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions invaded the island of Iwo Jima following an ineffective seventy-two hour assault. The 5th division, 28th Regiment was ordered to take control of Mount Suribachi. The 5th division reached the top of the mountain on the afternoon of February 21, by nightfall the following day, the Marines had completely
surrounded

Iwo Jima mountain. The following morning February 23rd, Marines of Company E, 2nd Battalion, climbed up the rough terrain to the top. Early in the am around the 10 O’clock hour the Marines were excited by the sight of a small American flag flying from the top Mount Suribachi. The afternoon of, when the hills were clear of enemy counteraction, a second and bigger flag was heighted in that same location. Teamwork played a major key in such gruesome battle, many lives were lost.
The making if the Iwo Jima Memorial Statue by Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press captured the flag raised in an iconic photograph. The photograph won a Pulitzer Prize. Felix W. de Weldon, was on duty with the US Navy, was touched by the photograph he composed a scaled model and a life sized model of the raising of the flag depicted in the photo. Gagnon, Hayes, and Bradley, at the time were three survivors of the flag raising posed for Felix W. de Weldon as he modeled their faces in clay.
The statue was finished in plaster, I was disassembled and taken by truck to Brooklyn, New York to be cast in bronze. The casting process took close to 3 years. After that process it was trucked back to Washington, D.C. The statue got bolted and welded together then treated with preservatives. President Dwight D. Eisenhower then dedicated the memorial in a ceremony on 1954, November 10th, the anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps.

The statue stands in the same positions as in Rosenthal's historic photograph. The modeled figures stand with Ira Hayes he is the figure farthest from the flagpole with both hands reaching up. Franklin Sousley is the figure in front of Hayes and to the right. John Bradley is the figure in front of Sousley and figure of Michael Strank is in front of Hayes, to the left. Rene Gagnon is the figure in front of Strank. The figure of Harlon Block is position at the foot of the flagpole. The statue standing on Swedish granite base cost $850,000.00. The money was donated by United States Marines, friends of the Marine Corps, and members of the Naval Service.
The World War II Memorial is a major memorial that pays homage to Americans who served and honors those who fallen men and women in an epic battle victory that restored freedom and ended tyranny around the world.
The memorial, delegated by President Clinton in 1993, the World War II Memorial rest on the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. The popular symbolic tribute host 4.4 million visitors a year, making it another most popular impactful most visited spots on America's front yard. With a submission of 400 during a worldwide design competition. The Memorial has two sides, with a split down the representing the Atlantic and Pacific theaters and is aligned with gold stars, representing Americans who lost their lives during World War
II.
The memorials are open year-round. The US Marine Corps War Memorial “Iwo Jima” is located on Arlington Ridge along the axis of the National Mall. Along this view are the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument. You can view this memorial statue by automobile traveling the VA-110 South route and US-50 East or West after exiting the metro. If it is during the summer months on Tuesday, Marine Corps band performs, no parking on the memorial grounds are permitted. Visitors have the option to utilize parking at the Cemetery of Arlington
Center and then by shuttle, to view the world largest military cemetery. It is also known, during the summer, the US Marine Corps holds the Sunset Parade at the memorial on Tuesday evenings. The memorial plaza is closed at this time to the public between the 7:00pm-8:00pm clock hour.
This symbolic war memorial statue that pays homage and tribute to those dedicated to our country amongst others war memorials are a great symbolic to show honor and appreciation to our past and current soldiers.