CHICAGO, Ill. – On February 23rd, 2025, the City of Chicago and veterans from across Chicagoland honored the Marines of World War II and the 80th anniversary of the flag raising on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima by laying a wreath next to the Eternal Flame in the heart of Daley Plaza.
On February 23rd, 1945, five U.S. Marines and a Navy Corpsman raised the flag on Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima. The battle of Iwo Jima remains one of the most brutal battles in United States history with roughly 7,000 Marines killed and around 20,000 wounded in combat. During the intense fighting, 27 service members were awarded the Medal of Honor for their bravery – the highest number of Medals of Honor ever received for one battle in U.S. history. Control of that island was instrumental in the war in the Pacific and the island-hopping campaign. What many don’t know is that the infamous photo by Joe Rosenthal is the second flag raised. The first was replaced by a larger one. The Marines and Corpsman that raised the first flag are the following: 1st Lt. Harold G. Schrier, Plt. Sgt. Ernest I. Thomas, Jr., Sgt. Henry O. Hansen, Cpl. Charles W. Lindberg, Pharmacist Mate 2nd Class John H. Bradley and Pvt. Philip L. Ward. The Marines depicted in the iconic photograph of the second raising are: Pfc. Ira Hayes, Pfc. Harold Schultz, Sgt. Michael Strank, Pfc. Franklin Sousley, Pfc. Harold Keller and Cpl. Harlon Block. Of the flag raisers, three died in combat on the island. “Uncommon valor was a common virtue.” Said Admiral Chester Nimitz regarding the Marines on Iwo Jima. The bravery and sacrifices of all those on the battlefield will be remembered in all the Marines, past, present, and future.
The City of Chicago held this event at the Eternal Flame at Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago. This symbolic place is a memorial for all the men and women that have served in the armed forces. Among those in attendance were the Director of Veteran Affairs and former Navy, Kevin Barszcz. Former Alderman of the 11th Ward of the City of Chicago, Marine Corps and Vietnam Veteran, and active member of the Chicago veteran community, James Balcer. Also in attendance, various veterans and active-duty military from around Chicagoland, including the command team of Marine Corps Recruiting Station Chicago, Maj. Branden Koonce, Capt. Ramarro Lamar, and Sgt. Maj. Nate Eirich. At the conclusion of the ceremony Koonce and Balcer placed a memorial wreath next to the Eternal Flame as a memorial for all those who fought at the Battle of Iwo Jima.
The Secretary of the Navy at the time of the Battle of Iwo Jima, James V. Forrestal, who watched the flag-raising from the beach, famously remarked “the raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next 500 years.” As the Marines approach the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps, those words hold a much deeper meaning to all Marines and to the Nation.
| Date Taken: | 02.23.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 03.27.2025 09:52 |
| Story ID: | 492649 |
| Location: | CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 8 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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