USNAviator
01-24-11, 07:43 PM
Repairs considered for Iwo Jima memorial
By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jan 24, 2011
It’s one of the most iconic images of World War II — the flag-raising by five Marines and a sailor on Mount Suribachi in 1945 on the island of Iwo Jima.
The event, captured by news photographer Joe Rosenthal, is cast larger than life in a bronze statue in Arlington, Va. The monument and grounds, officially called the Marine Corps War Memorial, is often referred to as the Iwo Jima memorial.
At close to 60 years old, the memorial is showing its age.
The statue’s original green patina is faded, according to a Marine Corps news release. Polished granite panels are loose, the substructure is cracked, and water reportedly accumulates in depressions at the base of the parade deck.
But there’s a plan in the works to refurbish the statue and improve the experience for the thousands of visitors who see it each year.
The newly formed Marine Corps War Memorial Foundation wants to partner with the National Park Service to repair and refurbish the monument. Under the plan, American flags would be rotated monthly, to ensure they do not become too worn.
In addition to repairs, the foundation wants to improve the overall experience at the memorial. In the short-term, the group wants to replace the plastic portable toilets with heated toilet trailers. The vision ultimately calls for a reception center with permanent restrooms, staffed with volunteers.
By Gina Cavallaro - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jan 24, 2011
It’s one of the most iconic images of World War II — the flag-raising by five Marines and a sailor on Mount Suribachi in 1945 on the island of Iwo Jima.
The event, captured by news photographer Joe Rosenthal, is cast larger than life in a bronze statue in Arlington, Va. The monument and grounds, officially called the Marine Corps War Memorial, is often referred to as the Iwo Jima memorial.
At close to 60 years old, the memorial is showing its age.
The statue’s original green patina is faded, according to a Marine Corps news release. Polished granite panels are loose, the substructure is cracked, and water reportedly accumulates in depressions at the base of the parade deck.
But there’s a plan in the works to refurbish the statue and improve the experience for the thousands of visitors who see it each year.
The newly formed Marine Corps War Memorial Foundation wants to partner with the National Park Service to repair and refurbish the monument. Under the plan, American flags would be rotated monthly, to ensure they do not become too worn.
In addition to repairs, the foundation wants to improve the overall experience at the memorial. In the short-term, the group wants to replace the plastic portable toilets with heated toilet trailers. The vision ultimately calls for a reception center with permanent restrooms, staffed with volunteers.