It’s time to take our next trip to one of DC’s beautiful national monuments: the Iwo Jima Memorial, also known as the United States Marine Corps War Memorial.
I wanted to go and see this monument because I’ve heard about it for eons but had never made the effort to go. When I decided to drive over on this bright and sunny Sunday, it turned out to be quite the effort indeed. The location couldn’t be closer to my home – it’s only two or three miles from down the road. And finding the memorial was easy too, there are plenty of signs on the freeway leading you straight to the spot. But finding the parking lot? Nearly impossible.
Not sure what I’m talking about? Let me show you. See the monument here in the big circle? That’s where I wanted to go. See the road around the circle? That’s where I wanted to drive.
I missed it the first time because I was having hard time with the signs so I took the wrong exit. Next thing I knew, I was on the parkway. Fifteen frustrated minutes later, I was back where I had started. This time I knew not to head towards the Army Base, but to take the first exit, which I did and voila: I was magically granted entrance into the inner circle otherwise known as the parking lot.
Once you get past that, you’re home free. It was worth the drive too – the monument itself is quite impressive. It’s also quite large, as you can tell by the people standing near its base.
The statue (which is 32 feet tall) was created in 1951 by sculptor Felix W. De Weldon. It was brought to DC in pieces and then erected in 1954.
(Source Iwo Jima.com)
Enscribed on the based (with gold) is the following:
- “Uncommon Valor Was a Common Virtue,”
- “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,”
- and the dates and locations of every principal Marine Corps engagement.
The scene depicted is a replication of the photo that was taken by Pulitzer Recipient Joe Rosenthal of the five Marines and one Sailor who raised the second flag over Iwo Jima.
Source: Iwojima.com
It’s actually a really interesting story, one that is told in the movie Clint Eastwood movie, Flags of our Fathers. It centers around the men who raised the flag and what happened to them, including the controversy surrounding the story, when they returned home from the war.
Those men were:
Mike Strank, b. 1919, d. 1945 in Iwo Jima. Harlon Block, b. 1924, d. 1945 Iwo Jima.
Franklin Sousley, b. 1925, d. 1945 in Iwo Jima and Ira Hayes, b. 1923, d. 1955
Rene Gagnon, b. 1925, d. 1979 and John Bradley, b. 1923, d. 1994
The statue was created in an exact replica of the soldiers including the placement of them on the hill …
all the way down to the smallest detail in their facial features.
The flag that they’re holding is flown 24 hours a day in accordance with a proclamation given by President Kennedy, one of the few official sites where this is allowed.
It truly is a remarkable memorial to the Marines who have sacrificed for their country. If you are ever in the area, I would suggest going by for a visit.
(Just be sure to take the first exit.)
What is your favorite memorial/monument in DC? What’s on your list to see if you’ve never been here?
Resources:
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