FLAG RAISING ON IWO JIMA

Flag raised on Mount Suribachi

On February 23rd, 1945, a patrol from the 28th Marine Regiment climbed Mount Suribachi, the volcanic peak dominating the southern end of Iwo Jima, and raised an American flag. A larger flag soon replaced the first, and an Associated Press photographer captured the moment that would become one of the most reproduced images in military history. The photograph shows six Marines straining together to plant the flag, and for many Americans it came to symbolize the combined effort and sacrifice of the entire war in the Pacific. On the island itself, the moment boosted morale for troops still fighting among the island’s ridges and ravines. It did not, however, mark the end of the battle. Most of the casualties on Iwo Jima occurred after the flag raising, as Marines and supporting units pushed north against stubborn resistance. The image would later be used for war-bond drives and inspire the Marine Corps War Memorial near Washington, D.C., tying a specific day’s effort to a long legacy of remembrance.