Iwo Jima survivors to be honored

By MICHAEL ARTHUR, Staff Writer

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 12:40 AM EST

FLEMINGSBURG -- On Feb. 23, 1945, a handful of Marines and one sailor hoisted the flag of the United States of America onto a make-shift pole on a small island in the Pacific Ocean.

A photograph that captured the event spread quickly from newspaper to newspaper and sparked hope and patriotism across a nation that had grown increasingly weary of World War II.

It would eventually become one of the most reproduced images in the history of photography.

Sunday marks the 64th anniversary of that fateful photograph and local organizers are once again planning a tribute to all those who served at Iwo Jima, including PFC Franklin R. Sousley USMCR, one of the flag raisers and a native of Fleming County who, along with two other men in the photograph, was killed in action on the island.

Sousley grew up in the Hilltop area and graduated from Fleming County High School. At 18, he received his draft notice and choose the Marines. By 19 he had fallen in combat.

According to Don Dixon, past state commandant for the Marine Corp League, Sunday's event will be split into two parts, with a program regarding the Battle of Iwo Jima scheduled to begin at 3 p.m at the Franklin Sousley VFW Post in Flemingsburg and a ceremony honoring Sousley at his gravesite in Elizaville Cemetery scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. A commemorative flag raising will be held during the graveside portion of the program, as well as a rifle salute by the Marine Corps League Honor Guard.

Dixon said the event always has a high turnout and, in addition to various speaker, several men who fought at and returned from Iwo Jima are expected to join the ceremony.

"All told, we could have about a dozen survivors of Iwo Jima attend," Dixon said.

Sousley's last surviving aunt, Florine Moran, as well as several nieces and nephews, will also be in attendance. Dixon said Moran has attended every year since the organized tribute began in 1993.

Other speakers slated for the event include Louis Drawdy, commandant of the Kentucky Department of the Marine Corp League and Task Force Omega of Kentucky Executive Director Danny "Greasy" Belcher. Mackenzie Purvis will deliver a speech written about Sousley and will sing "God Bless America." Billy McFarland of the Flemingsburg American Legion, will play "Taps" and Chris Paul, with Task Force Omega of Kentucky, will play bag pipes.

Contact Michael Arthur at michael.arthur@lee.net or call 606-564-9091, ext. 271.

Ellie