Tag Archives: world war 2

Iwo Jima Memorial: The Picture Comes to Life

Picture 9Memorials can get repetitive at times. Sometimes, it feels like when you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. This is not the case with the Iwo Jima Memorial. Modeled after the famous photo of six soldiers raising the American flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima in WWII, this huge memorial is a sight to behold.

Also known as the United States Marine Corps War Memorial, the place is dedicated to all the U.S. marines who have given their lives since 1775. The 32-foot-high figures are shown erecting a 60-foot bronze flagpole from which a cloth flag flies 24 hours every day. The faces were modeled in clay after the three surviving soldiers who raised the flag in the photo. Overall, the memorial is 78 feet high. In fact, the canteens in the statue can hold 32 quarts of water.

Seeing the memorable Iwo Jima photo as a large, three-dimensional representation, the sight is truly spectacular. If you go at night, the scene is very powerful. This is one statue that will not seem repetitive and plain.