81st Anniversary – Iwo Jima Flag Raising

81st Anniversary – Iwo Jima Flag Raising
Veterans Memorial Park – Sacaton, Arizona

On December 7th, 1941, Japan attacked the United States of America by bombing Pearl Harbor; this action forced the United States into World War II. Many years later, on February 23, 1945, United States military forces gained control of the Japanese-occupied island of Iwo Jima. As a result, the American flag was raised on Mount Suribachi, and at that time, an important and historic photograph was taken. This photograph captured five United States Marines and one United States Navy Corpsman as they raised the American flag. Ira H. Hayes, a member of the Gila River Indian Community, was one of the men who raised the flag that day. This historic photograph was a sign of the end of World War II. By gaining control of Iwo Jima and its aircraft landing strip. The United States gained a strategic advantage that allowed U.S. aircraft a place to refuel and launch missions against Japan, thus taking the fight to them. For additional information at this time please contact Post 84 at: Tel: (520)562-8484 or via e-mail at ihpost84@gilanet.net