On Tuesday, May 24 I had the incredible opportunity to visit the Marine Corps War Memorial (also known as the Iwo Jima Memorial) and Arlington National Cemetery. Both of these sites are truly national treasures and should be visited by every American. Around 1:00PM I grabbed a quick cab ride over the Potomac River from Georgetown to the Iwo Jima Memorial. When I got there, I saw that a platoon or more of Marines were on the grounds drilling for an upcoming ceremony or special event. That was pretty cool to see - and they were good! The memorial itself is monumental. I can not even describe the size and imposing power and emotion that the statue conveys. It is an absolutely incredible piece of art! I photographed the monument from all angles and circled it more than a few times. There are four informational markers surrounding the statue detailing the history of the Corps, the battle for Iwo Jima, the flag raising, and making the memorial. I left there feeling very inspired and overwhelmingly proud of my great uncle Bob Lauritsen once again and his service on Iwo. Semper Fi Bob!
After my time at the Iwo Jima Memorial I wandered down a road that I felt would lead me to Arlington National Cemetery... and I was right. Over the next hill I began to see them in the distance, the white stone headstones dotting the green landscape. I went in through a side gate and was immediately in awe of the scene which lay sprawled out before me. Perfectly aligned, row after row, each stone standing proud... and silent. The mood there is very somber but there is a pride in the heart of each American that stands among those stones. A feeling that our freedom was earned for us by these men, and we are so very thankful for all that they have given for us. A few rows into my visit I stumbled upon a grave that I never expected to see. On the back of the stone was a bronze plaque depicting the Iwo Jima flag raising, and as I walked around to see whose grave it was I was astonished. There before me was the final resting place of Rene Gagnon, one of the six flag raisers of the famous second flag on Iwo Jima. WOW!!! Uncle Bob had seen that flag raised on February 23, 1945, and now here I stood at the grave of one of those men. Unbelievable! I then ventured on and saw several Medal of Honor markers, President William Howard Taft's grave, General Omar Bradley's grave, and then finally John F. Kennedy's burial site and the eternal flame. It was quite a special day for me. I didn't make it to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the changing of the guard, but I'll be back someday.
1 comment:
I was attracted to your blog by mention of the Iwo Jima memorial and the 2nd Infantry Division.
As a Marine vet of Iwo Jima,and after extensive research on the battle and the memorial, I now lecture to school groups at the memorial.
You seem to have delved deeply into the history of the 2nd Infantry Division, so perhaps you are aware that Marines served in the division in France in the First World War (the 5th & 6th Marine Regiments formed one of the division's brigades. In 1940, when I served in the 6th Marines in San Diego, a large Indian Head sign reposed in the regimental CO'soffice.
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