By Rachel Cooper
Washington, DC Expert, about, com
The Iwo Jima Memorial, also known as the U. S. Marine Corps War Memorial, honors the Marines who have died defending the United States since 1775. The Iwo Jima Memorial is located near Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. In April 2015, philanthropist David M. Rubenstein donated $5.37 million to restore the sculpture and its surrounding parkland.
The 32-foot-high sculpture of the Iwo Jima Memorial was inspired by a Pulitzer Prize winning photograph of one of the most historic battles of World War II. Iwo Jima, a small island located 660 miles south of Tokyo, was the last territory that U.S. troops recaptured from the Japanese during World War II. The Iwo Jima Memorial statue depicts the scene of the flag raising by five Marines and a Navy hospital corpsman that signaled the successful takeover of the island. The capture of Iwo Jima eventually led to the end of the war in 1945.
The figures of the Marines in the Iwo Jima Memorial statue erect a 60-foot bronze flagpole from which a cloth flag flies 24 hours a day. The base of the memorial is made of rough Swedish granite which is inscribed with the names and dates of every principal member of the U. S. Marine Corps. Also engraved are the words "In honor and in memory of the men of the United States Marine Corps who have given their lives to their country since November 10, 1775."
Location
Marshall
Drive, between Route 50 and Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington,
VA. The Iwo Jima Memorial is located about six blocks from the Rosslyn
Metro Station. The Netherlands Carillon, a bell tower and park are adjacent to the memorial.
Hours
Open
daily, 24 hours. The Marine Corps presents the Marine Sunset Review
Parade on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m., May through August.
The capital region is home to many memorials to honor those who have made notable contributions to our nation. To learn more,
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