Full Answer
Where is the Iwo Jima Memorial located?
February 11, 20192 comments20425 views. The Iwo Jima Memorial is officially known as the Marine Corps War Memorial. It is located outside of the Arlington National Cemetery and is next to the Netherlands Carillon in Arlington, Virginia.
Who is the architect of the Iwo Jima Memorial?
Felix de Weldon (sculptor) Horace W. Peaslee (architect) The United States Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial) is a national memorial located in Arlington County, Virginia, in the United States.
How many hands are on the Iwo Jima Memorial?
U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon at the Iwo Jima Memorial. Iwo Jima Memorial Rumors. There are a total of 12 hands in the memorial that corresponds to the six military men depicted on the statue.
What is the statue of Iwo Jima made of?
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.

Where is the original Iwo Jima statue?
The original sculpture of the Iwo Jima Memorial, that is in Arlington Cemetery in Washington DC, is in Harlingen at the Marine Military Academy and Iwo Jima Memorial Museum. This is the clay sculpture that the bronze statue in Arlington Cemetery was made from.
Where is the US Marine Corps War Memorial located?
Arlington National CemeteryThe US Marine Corps War Memorial is in Virginia near Arlington National Cemetery.
What is the significance of the Iwo Jima Memorial?
The Iwo Jima Monument located in South Texas and the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington,Va., have symbolized American honor, courage and commitment for almost 70 years. “The monument means a lot more than the raising of a flag. It represents the pride and the importance of standing by your country,” he said.
Can you walk from Arlington Cemetery to Iwo Jima?
It can also be accessed from inside Arlington National Cemetery, so for those visiting the cemetery, you can add Iwo Jima as a follow-up to your visit there. You can exit the cemetery via the Ord-Weitzel Gate on the north side of the cemetery, by Section 27.
Does the Iwo Jima flag still exist?
Both flags (from the first and second flag-raisings) are now located in the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia.
Is there a military cemetery on Iwo Jima?
After his death on February 27, 1945, Medal of Honor recipient and Bibb County native Ross Franklin Gray was buried in the Fourth Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Japan.
Does Iwo Jima belong to Japan?
Iwo Jima, official Japanese Iō-tō, also called Iō-jima, island that is part of the Volcano Islands archipelago, far southern Japan. The island has been widely known as Iwo Jima, its conventional name, since World War II (1939–45).
Was Okinawa worse than Iwo Jima?
Kamikazes would sink dozens of US warships and kill nearly 5,000 sailors during fighting around Okinawa. Total American casualties at Okinawa during three months of fighting there would be nearly double those suffered at Iwo Jima. About 200,000 Japanese soldiers and civilians would die as well.
Is Iwo Jima open to the public?
Visiting Iwo Jima Today The Japan Air Self-Defense Force also uses the base with a garrison of 400 troops on the island. Civilian access is severely restricted. Only a small number of official tour operators are allowed to land there with tourists.
Can you see the Pentagon from Arlington Cemetery?
This picture shows the pentagon from a high view from Arlington cemetery.
Are there bathrooms at the Iwo Jima Memorial?
Better known as the Iwo Jima Memorial, it is one of the most popular monuments in our area-with over one million visitors a year. However there are no public restrooms there. Visitors are forced to use porta-potties supplied by the National Park Service.
Where are the Iwo Jima flag raisers buried?
Arlington National CemeteryOf the six men who raised the flag atop Suribachi, three are buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Though located in separate areas of ANC, the graves of Cpl.
Is Iwo Jima open to the public?
Visiting Iwo Jima Today The Japan Air Self-Defense Force also uses the base with a garrison of 400 troops on the island. Civilian access is severely restricted. Only a small number of official tour operators are allowed to land there with tourists.
What is on Iwo Jima today?
A protective roof has been ripped away and the pockmarks of low-calibre shells scar the walls. Nearly 75 years after one of the bloodiest battles of World War II, much of what remains has been reclaimed by the undergrowth that thrives unchecked on Iwo To – better known in the history books as Iwo Jima.
Was Okinawa worse than Iwo Jima?
Kamikazes would sink dozens of US warships and kill nearly 5,000 sailors during fighting around Okinawa. Total American casualties at Okinawa during three months of fighting there would be nearly double those suffered at Iwo Jima. About 200,000 Japanese soldiers and civilians would die as well.
How many Marines are in the Iwo Jima statue?
six servicemenThe monument represents six servicemen, five Marines and one Navy corpsman, raising the flag of the United States on Mt Suribachi, Japan, during the battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.
How tall is the Iwo Jima Memorial?
The 32-foot-high sculpture of the Iwo Jima Memorial was inspired by a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph, taken by Associated Press combat photographer Joe Rosenthal, 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.
What is the Iwo Jima statue made of?
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.
Who raised the flag at the Iwo Jima Memorial?
The Iwo Jima Memorial statue depicts the scene of the flag raising by five Marines and a Navy hospital corpsman (Michael Strank, Harlon Block, Franklin Sousley, Rene Gagnon, Ira Hayes, and Harold Schultz) that signaled the successful takeover of the island. The capture of Iwo Jima eventually led to the end of the war in 1945.
Where is the National Memorial located?
The National Memorial is located near Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. In April 2015, philanthropist David M. Rubenstein donated $5.37 million to restore the sculpture and improve the surrounding parkland.
Where is the Arlington National Cemetery?
Location: Marshall Drive, between Route 50 and Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, VA. The Memorial is located about a ten-minute walk from both the Arlington National Cemetery or the Rosslyn Metro Stations. The Netherlands Carillon, a bell tower, and park are adjacent to the memorial.
Where is the Iwo Jima Memorial?
It is located outside of the Arlington National Cemetery and is next to the Netherlands Carillon in Arlington, Virginia.
How tall is the Iwo Jima statue?
The figures on the stature are 32 feet tall and the memorial features a flagpole which is 60 feet long with a granite base. There are two inscriptions on the base of the statue: “Uncommon Valor Was a Common Virtue” attributed to Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz talking about the fighting men on Iwo Jima. The second inscription is, “In honor and memory ...
Who are the Men Featured in the Statue?
The Marine Corps Memorial features the following Marines and Sailor: Sgt Michael Strank, Cpl Harlon Block, PFC Franklin Sousley, PFC Rene Gagnon, PFC Ira Hayes, PM2 John Bradley.
What is the second inscription on the Marine Corps Memorial?
The second inscription is, “In honor and memory of the men of the United States Marine Corps who have given their lives to their country since 10 November 1775.”.
Who designed the Marine Memorial?
The design of the memorial was completed by Felix de Weldon and is based on the raising of the American flag picture taken during the Battle of Iwo Jima by AP photographers, Joe Rosenthal.
Who raised the flag on Iwo Jima?
Despite this acknowledgment, it is not well-known by the American public that the Marines and sailor depicted raising the flag were actually the second group of men to raise a flag on the mountain that day in Iwo Jima.
When did the flag fly from the memorial?
Later, in 1961 , President John F. Kennedy decreed that the American flag shall fly from the memorial 24 hours a day which is one of the few official sites of the American government where this is a requirement.
Where is the Iwo Jima Memorial?
The United States Marine Corps War Memorial ( Iwo Jima Memorial) is a national memorial located in Arlington County, Virginia, in the United States. The memorial was dedicated in 1954 to all Marines who have given their lives in defense of the United States since 1775. It is located in Arlington Ridge Park within the George Washington Memorial ...
How many people died in the Iwo Jima Memorial?
A similar design is used for the National Iwo Jima Memorial in Newington, Connecticut, which was dedicated in 1995 to the 6,821 U.S. servicemen who died in the battle.
How much did the Marine Memorial cost?
The total cost of the memorial was $850,000, including the development of the site. It was paid for with donations mostly from active duty Marines and Marine Reservists. Other donors included former Marines and friends of the Marine Corps and members of the Naval Service; no public funds were used.
When was the second flag raised at Iwo Jima?
This small concrete statue of the second U.S. flag raising at Iwo Jima in 1945 was scheduled to be auctioned in February 2013 at a New York auction dedicated to World War II artifacts, but it failed to receive the minimum bid required for the auction of it to begin.
What is the tilted spire above the National Museum of the Marine Corps?
The tilted spire above the National Museum of the Marine Corps is a visual allusion to the original sculpture.
What is the Marine Corps Memorial?
The memorial consists of front and rear inscriptions, and inscribed in gold letters around the polished black granite upper base of the memorial is the date and location of every United States Marine Corps major action up to the present time.
Where is the statue of the flag raiser?
The original plaster working model for the bronze and granite memorial statue currently stands in Harlingen, Texas, at the Marine Military Academy, a private Marine Corps-inspired youth military academy. The academy also is the final resting place of Corporal Harlon Block, one of the flag raisers who was killed in action on Iwo Jima.
Where is the Iwo Jima Memorial located?
The National Iwo Jima Memorial located in Newington, Connecticut has been constructed using a similar design like the Marine Corp Memorial and pays tribute to the 6,821 US servicemen who died in the battle.
What was the significance of the capture of Iwo Jima?
When 70, 000 US marines invaded the strategic island under control of the Japanese Army on February 19, 1945, one of their prime objective was to capture Mount Suribachi, the highest point on the island. Three days later the mountain was secured and an American flag was hoisted on the mountain top, by five marines and a Navy corpsman. This historic moment was instantly captured by an Associated Press photographer, Joe Rosenthal and became a glowing symbol of the Pacific War. The American government used the photograph to sell war bonds and promote the war effort. This was also the inspiration behind the U.S Marine Corps Memorial or the Iwo Jima Memorial. Located near the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, overlooking the Potomac River, this memorial pays homage to all those marines who have sacrificed their lives defending the United States 1775 onwards.
How tall is the Marine Corp Memoria L?
The 32-foot-high sculpture of the Marine Corp Memoria l was inspired by a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph clicked by Joe Rosenthal.
How many soldiers are there in the statue of liberty?
While the statue was being designed, the three surviving soldiers of the war from the photographs posed for the sculptor.
What is the Marine Corps Memorial made of?
The memorial base is made of rough Swedish granite and the names of every major member of the US Marine Corps are inscribed on it.
When did the flag fly from the Memorial to the President?
In the year 1961 , President John F. Kennedy issued a proclamation that the United States flag should fly from the memorial all throughout the day.
Where is the Iwo Jima Monument?
There is an Iwo Jima Monument in South Texas. Most Americans know the historic significance of the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, and the iconic image it is modeled after.
Where was the Weldon statue built?
It was transported to the Rio Grande Valley from his studio in Rhode Island, and was later dedicated on April 16, 1982, at the academy’s parade grounds located at 320 Iwo Jima Blvd in Harlingen, Texas.
Where is Iwo Jima?
The tiny island of Iwo Jima lies 660 miles south of Tokyo. Mount Suribachi, an extinct volcano that forms the narrow southern tip of the island, rises 550 feet to dominate the ocean around it. US troops had recaptured most of the other islands in the Pacific Ocean that the Japanese had taken in 1941 and 1942.
What was the name of the mountain that the Marines climbed to capture Iwo Jima?
The 28th Regiment of the 5th Division, was ordered to capture Mount Suribachi. They reached the base of the mountain on the afternoon of February 21 and, by nightfall the next day, had almost completely surrounded it. On the morning of February 23, Marines of Company E, 2nd Battalion, started the tortuous climb up the rough terrain to the top. At about 10:30 am men all over the island were thrilled by the sight of a small American flag flying from atop Mount Suribachi. That afternoon, when the slopes were clear of enemy resistance, a second, larger flag was raised in the same location.
How many quarts of water were in the Iwo Jima flag raisers?
The M-l rifle and the carbine carried by two of the figures are 16 and 12 feet long, respectively. The canteen would hold 32 quarts of water. The figures stand on a rock slope above a granite base.
How much did the Marine Corps statue cost?
The entire cost of the statue ($850,000) was donated by US Marines, friends of the Marine Corps, and members of the Naval Service. No public funds were used for this memorial. NPS Image.
How much did the statue of liberty cost?
The entire cost of the statue ($850,000) was donated by US Marines, friends of the Marine Corps, and members of the Naval Service. No public funds were used for this memorial.
How many pieces of the statue were reassembled?
After the parts had been cast, cleaned, finished, and chased, they were reassembled into approximately a dozen pieces--the largest weighing more than 20 tons--and brought back to Washington, D.C., by a three-truck convoy. Here they were bolted and welded together, and the statue was treated with preservatives.
Who is in front of Hayes statue?
Frank lin Sousley is in front of Hayes, to the right. John Bradley is in front of Sousley. Michael Strank is in front of Hayes, to the left. Rene Gagnon is in front of Strank. Harlon Block is at the foot of the flagpole. These were the men believed to have been the actual flag raisers when de Weldon created the statue.

Who Are The Men Featured in The Statue?
History of The Iwo Jima Memorial
- Work commenced on the Iwo Jima Memorial in 1951 which consisted of casting a bronze memorial based on the historic photo of the raising of the American flag on Mt. Suribachi. The figures on the stature are 32 feet tall and the memorial features a flagpole which is 60 feet long with a granite base. There are two inscriptions on the base of the statue: “Uncommon Valor Wa…
Iwo Jima Memorial Rumors
- There are a total of 12 hands in the memorial that corresponds to the six military men depicted on the statue. Since the creation of the monument, there have been rumors of a 13th hand that was created by the original sculptor to symbolize the other Marines involved in the raising of the American flag at Iwo Jimaor in other conspiracy theories the hand of God. The sculptor denied t…
How Do You Visit The Iwo Jima Memorial?
- The Iwo Jima Memorial (aka Marine Corps Memorial) is located at Marshall Drive, between Route 50 and Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, VA. The memorial is approximately six blocks from the Rosslyn Metro Station if you are using this mode of travel in the District to visit the historical sites. The Netherlands Carillon, a bell tower, and pa...
Overview
The United States Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial) is a national memorial located in Arlington County, Virginia, in the United States. The memorial was dedicated in 1954 to all Marines who have given their lives in defense of the United States since 1775. It is located in Arlington Ridge Park within the George Washington Memorial Parkway, near the Ord-Weitzel Gate to Arlington …
Related memorials
When there were no government funds for sculpture during the war, the sculptor financed a concrete version of similar design in a one-third size that was placed on a parcel of land in Washington, D.C. until 1947, when it was put into storage. It later was restored and displayed at a museum on an aircraft carrier and again, returned to storage. This small concrete statue of the second U.S. flag raising at Iwo Jima in 1945 was scheduled to be auctioned in February 2013 at …
History
The centerpiece of the memorial is a colossal sculpture group depicting the six Marines who raised the second and largest of two U.S. flags that were both raised atop Mount Suribachi located at the south end of Iwo Jima, on February 23, 1945. The first flag flown over the mountain was regarded to be too small to be seen by all the American troops on the other side of it where most of the fig…
Memorial marker and inscriptions
The memorial consists of front and rear inscriptions, and inscribed in gold letters around the polished black granite upper base of the memorial is the date and location of every United States Marine Corps major action up to the present time.
Front (west side): "Uncommon Valor Was A Common Virtue" – "Semper Fidelis"
Memorial rumor and criticism
A persistent rumor has attributed the existence of a thirteenth hand from the six statues of the men depicted on the memorial, and speculation about the possible reasons for it. When informed of the rumor, de Weldon exclaimed, "Thirteen hands. Who needed thirteen hands? Twelve were enough."
In discussing the site for the United States Air Force Memorial, originally to be near de Weldon's …
Refurbishment
On April 29, 2015, philanthropist David Rubenstein pledged over five million dollars to refurbish the memorial in honor of his father, a Marine veteran from World War II who died in 2013, "and all Marines who have died in service to the United States." The $5.37 million donation, made through the National Park Foundation, supported cleaning and waxing the statue, polishing the black granite panels, regilding inscriptions, relandscaping, and making repairs to the pavement, lightin…
See also
• Iron Mike
• National Museum of the Marine Corps
• United States Navy Memorial
External links
• Official website
• Uncommon Valor A short USMC-created film about the Iwo Jima Memorial
• Marine Military Academy Iwo Jima monument
• USMC War Memorial photographs at WW2DB