thedrifter
09-27-03, 09:46 AM
Local history buffs re-enact Iwo Jima for national celebration
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification Number: 2003925152143
Story by Sgt. Jim Heuston
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(September 17, 2003) -- HOLLYWOOD - A group of Camp Pendleton volunteers showed off their stripes with a few stars to honor the Pledge of Allegiance in the Hollywood Hills Sept. 17 as part of a simultaneous, nationwide celebration of Constitution Day.
Volunteers from U.S. Marine Corps Historical Company at Camp Pendleton re-enacted the Iwo Jima flag-raising for Los Angeles school children during "Pledge Across America." The event also commemorated two other memorable flag-raisings in our nation's history - the first walk on the moon and the first flag-raising after Sept. 11, 2001, at Ground Zero in New York.
The event began with speeches from actor Ernest Borgnine, a World War II veteran and Oscar winner, as well as Air Force Col. Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin Jr., a Korean War veteran and second man to walk on the moon. The ceremony culminated with President George W. Bush leading the nation in the Pledge of Allegiance via live television.
Staff Sgt. Steven C. Sullivan headed up the group of Marines who performed the Mount Suribachi flag-raising skit. He's a Marine academic specialist at Camp Pendleton's School of Infantry and volunteers with the historical company. He explained the level of detail that goes into their dramatization.
"We've taken every photograph, statue, monument and the footage of the actual flag-raising on Iwo Jima and dissected it, blown it up and ripped it apart to try to get ... down to-the-tee accuracy," Sullivan said. "Everything I'm wearing is by design World War II. Now, it's a reproduction uniform and equipment, but the cut, design and tailoring is all spot on."
The Iwo squad also has a real Navy corpsman to represent Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class John Bradley, but they are still looking for a Native American to represent Pfc. Ira Hayes.
"I know as much about my M-1 Garand as I do about my M-16," said Sullivan, referring the standard service rifle Marines used during World War II and the one they use now, respectively. "You get into it to the point where I'm wearing white socks. During World War II, we didn't have green socks. The only reason I'm wearing a green T-shirt is because on Iwo they were just coming out with them."
The Marines spent hours after the ceremony answering questions and signing autographs for children as well as sharing memories with veterans.
But the Marine Corps connection was just part of the story. Firemen and astronaut Buzz Aldrin joined them, along with school children from Maine to Hawaii.
Children from area schools performed and sang songs about the Constitution, along with hymns of all five Armed Services combined as the "Military Medley." The two flag-raising ceremonies were preformed as the President led the children in the Pledge of Allegiance. Three members of the Los Angeles Fire Department who helped with rescue efforts at Ground Zero in New York City raised the American flag in representation of Sept. 11. Marines and a corpsman from the U.S. Marine Corps Historical Company memorialized the historic flag-raising on Iwo Jima.
"You go to a museum and you see something through glass, and you say oh that's pretty, that's nice," Sullivan explained. "Here you can touch everything. If you want to put the pack on, you can put the pack on. It's like a mobile museum, only we're here to tell you about everything."
Sullivan and his fellow Marines and corpsmen prefer to be called "living historians." They provide a flesh-and-blood glimpse into the past. Besides the Iwo Jima flag-raising, the historical company gives classes and demonstrations of World War II infantry tactics - sometimes with live flamethrowers - as well as unit history lessons.
"We are not re-enactors," he added. "We are active-duty Marines and some civilian volunteers."
This was the first time the squad has performed Iwo Jima's famous flag-raising. They don't normally cover specific units or events, but anytime they can share Marine Corps history and knowledge with the public or fellow Marines, then mission accomplished.
"I think it tugs at all of our heart strings," said Paula Burton, president and founder of Celebration Across America. "Think back to the three most photographed pictures of the flag. You think of the Man on the Moon. Buzz Aldrin was here to share that moment with us. The representation of the Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima, a very moving photo when you see it presented live. Then we had the flag-raising at Ground Zero. These three rescue workers were amongst those who went to New York."
Known as the flag lady by her students, Burton, a schoolteacher, had the idea of a nationally organized Pledge of Allegiance in 1988. At that time, Burton detected "apathy" in her students when she asked them to define "indivisible."
"They responded that it meant you couldn't see it," she explained.
Burton began to teach the pledge word by word, explaining the meaning of each. Her research discovered that the original Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 for a national school celebration. Francis Bellamy wrote the pledge and hoped it would heal Civil War wounds and bring the country together.
After the events of Sept. 11, the president took an interest in Burton's organization and turned her idea into a national event.
"We are an 'indivisible' people, and it took 9-11 to tug at some people to recognize our responsibilities as citizens to strive to make a difference," Burton said.
The flag and all its symbolism are close to Burton's heart. She was born in Holland and has vivid memories of German soldiers arresting her father and taking him away to work in the labor camps. He later escaped.
"You American people came to the rescue of a starving nation, and it is my responsibility to pay tribute to the men and women who preserve our freedom," Burton said. "I'm grateful to all the people that serve in the military - those who served in the past, those who are serving today and particularly those serving in Iraq."
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003925152549/$file/flagoniwolow.jpg
Marines and a corpsman dramatize the famous Iwo Jima flag-raising to school children and their parents in Hollywood Hills. It was the first time Camp Pendleton's historical company has dramatized the flag-raising for the public.
Photo by: Sgt. Jim Heuston
Date the Photo was taken:09/17/2003
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification Number: 2003925152143
Story by Sgt. Jim Heuston
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(September 17, 2003) -- HOLLYWOOD - A group of Camp Pendleton volunteers showed off their stripes with a few stars to honor the Pledge of Allegiance in the Hollywood Hills Sept. 17 as part of a simultaneous, nationwide celebration of Constitution Day.
Volunteers from U.S. Marine Corps Historical Company at Camp Pendleton re-enacted the Iwo Jima flag-raising for Los Angeles school children during "Pledge Across America." The event also commemorated two other memorable flag-raisings in our nation's history - the first walk on the moon and the first flag-raising after Sept. 11, 2001, at Ground Zero in New York.
The event began with speeches from actor Ernest Borgnine, a World War II veteran and Oscar winner, as well as Air Force Col. Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin Jr., a Korean War veteran and second man to walk on the moon. The ceremony culminated with President George W. Bush leading the nation in the Pledge of Allegiance via live television.
Staff Sgt. Steven C. Sullivan headed up the group of Marines who performed the Mount Suribachi flag-raising skit. He's a Marine academic specialist at Camp Pendleton's School of Infantry and volunteers with the historical company. He explained the level of detail that goes into their dramatization.
"We've taken every photograph, statue, monument and the footage of the actual flag-raising on Iwo Jima and dissected it, blown it up and ripped it apart to try to get ... down to-the-tee accuracy," Sullivan said. "Everything I'm wearing is by design World War II. Now, it's a reproduction uniform and equipment, but the cut, design and tailoring is all spot on."
The Iwo squad also has a real Navy corpsman to represent Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class John Bradley, but they are still looking for a Native American to represent Pfc. Ira Hayes.
"I know as much about my M-1 Garand as I do about my M-16," said Sullivan, referring the standard service rifle Marines used during World War II and the one they use now, respectively. "You get into it to the point where I'm wearing white socks. During World War II, we didn't have green socks. The only reason I'm wearing a green T-shirt is because on Iwo they were just coming out with them."
The Marines spent hours after the ceremony answering questions and signing autographs for children as well as sharing memories with veterans.
But the Marine Corps connection was just part of the story. Firemen and astronaut Buzz Aldrin joined them, along with school children from Maine to Hawaii.
Children from area schools performed and sang songs about the Constitution, along with hymns of all five Armed Services combined as the "Military Medley." The two flag-raising ceremonies were preformed as the President led the children in the Pledge of Allegiance. Three members of the Los Angeles Fire Department who helped with rescue efforts at Ground Zero in New York City raised the American flag in representation of Sept. 11. Marines and a corpsman from the U.S. Marine Corps Historical Company memorialized the historic flag-raising on Iwo Jima.
"You go to a museum and you see something through glass, and you say oh that's pretty, that's nice," Sullivan explained. "Here you can touch everything. If you want to put the pack on, you can put the pack on. It's like a mobile museum, only we're here to tell you about everything."
Sullivan and his fellow Marines and corpsmen prefer to be called "living historians." They provide a flesh-and-blood glimpse into the past. Besides the Iwo Jima flag-raising, the historical company gives classes and demonstrations of World War II infantry tactics - sometimes with live flamethrowers - as well as unit history lessons.
"We are not re-enactors," he added. "We are active-duty Marines and some civilian volunteers."
This was the first time the squad has performed Iwo Jima's famous flag-raising. They don't normally cover specific units or events, but anytime they can share Marine Corps history and knowledge with the public or fellow Marines, then mission accomplished.
"I think it tugs at all of our heart strings," said Paula Burton, president and founder of Celebration Across America. "Think back to the three most photographed pictures of the flag. You think of the Man on the Moon. Buzz Aldrin was here to share that moment with us. The representation of the Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima, a very moving photo when you see it presented live. Then we had the flag-raising at Ground Zero. These three rescue workers were amongst those who went to New York."
Known as the flag lady by her students, Burton, a schoolteacher, had the idea of a nationally organized Pledge of Allegiance in 1988. At that time, Burton detected "apathy" in her students when she asked them to define "indivisible."
"They responded that it meant you couldn't see it," she explained.
Burton began to teach the pledge word by word, explaining the meaning of each. Her research discovered that the original Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 for a national school celebration. Francis Bellamy wrote the pledge and hoped it would heal Civil War wounds and bring the country together.
After the events of Sept. 11, the president took an interest in Burton's organization and turned her idea into a national event.
"We are an 'indivisible' people, and it took 9-11 to tug at some people to recognize our responsibilities as citizens to strive to make a difference," Burton said.
The flag and all its symbolism are close to Burton's heart. She was born in Holland and has vivid memories of German soldiers arresting her father and taking him away to work in the labor camps. He later escaped.
"You American people came to the rescue of a starving nation, and it is my responsibility to pay tribute to the men and women who preserve our freedom," Burton said. "I'm grateful to all the people that serve in the military - those who served in the past, those who are serving today and particularly those serving in Iraq."
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003925152549/$file/flagoniwolow.jpg
Marines and a corpsman dramatize the famous Iwo Jima flag-raising to school children and their parents in Hollywood Hills. It was the first time Camp Pendleton's historical company has dramatized the flag-raising for the public.
Photo by: Sgt. Jim Heuston
Date the Photo was taken:09/17/2003
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: