The 65th anniversary wreath laying and commemoration ceremony of the two historic flag-raisings atop Mt. Suribachi in 1945 will be held at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va. Feb. 23.
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 9:45 a.m. and run through 10:30 a.m. The flag-raising will begin at 10:17 a.m. and conclude by 10:20 a.m., coinciding with the first flag-raising on Mt. Suribachi 65 years ago.
The ceremony held by The Marine Corps War Memorial will honor the sacrifices of U.S. Marines and sailors who fought during this pivotal battle of World War II and the Marine dead of all wars, to whom the memorial is dedicated.
Driving from Washington, take the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and follow the signs to Route 50 West. Stay in the right lane and take the first exit to “Rosslyn.” Stay left. At the stop sign, turn left onto N. Meade Street and proceed to Marshall Drive. Turn left and take the first left to the Marine Corps War Memorial.
This year’s ceremony is the third annual commemoration ceremony recognizing the flag-raisings on Iwo Jima. The second of two raisings, captured in the Pulitzer Prize winning photograph by A.P. photographer Joe Rosenthal, and later immortalized by Felix de Weldon, was the inspiration for the creation of the Marine Corps War Memorial. The ceremony will recognize Iwo Jima veterans and the Marine dead of all wars. A number of Iwo Jima veterans will attend and be willing to speak with the media, but the focus of the event is the 65th anniversary of that historic moment of WWII, where the American flag was raised above Japanese soil for the first time.
Marines from Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., color guard, firing party, the Marine Corps Band (“The Presidents Own”) and Marines of Headquarters Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, stationed at Henderson Hall in Arlington, Va., will be participating in the ceremony.