The Iwo Jima Flag Raising
23 February 1945, Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima
Posted on 09/13/2005 1:20:28 AM PDT by Former Military Chick
In 1969, when Hurricane Camille left much of the Coast a mangled, unrecognizable pile of debris, thousands of Daily Herald readers found inspiration in a single photograph of an American flag, proudly flying atop a bent flag pole amid the ruins.
We reprint an excerpt from an editorial a few days after the storm. It was written by the late Bob McHugh, the Herald's new associate editor, who had barely unpacked his family and their moving boxes when Camille left them with nothing.
"When the U.S. Marines captured Iwo Jima in 1945 and hoisted the American flag on volcanic Mt. Suribachi, the event was recorded in a brilliant photograph.
"It was a picture of frozen motion in sweeping lines, a statement of courage in the face of despair more eloquent than anything Michelangelo could have hacked out of marble. It captured the imagination of our entire nation.
"Something comparable has been happening, quite spontaneously, all along the Gulf Coast. Early last week, staff photographer Ronnie Elias recorded with his camera near devastated Pass Christian an area of intense destruction. An American flag was flying bravely on a twisted pole in the foreground.
"The picture won a five-column spread on page one of The Daily Herald. It caused a lot of comment.
"The other day, driving from Bay St. Louis to Biloxi, we noticed a great many American flags. They flew in front of dozens of structures, some damaged, some relatively untouched and some that were little more than piles of complete wreckage.
"Since then, a number of people have dropped into The Daily Herald offices to tell us of the unusual number of flags flying in valiant defiance of the wreckage wrought by the worst storm to hit the continental United States in recent history... .
The flag and the slogan "Together We Build" galvanized the Coast's irrepressible spirit into the muscle and momentum that helped build South Mississippi into the state's most powerful economic engine, a vibrant and beautiful place to visit, to work and to live.
That place and that spirit are still here. We are dented and disheveled, but the people and the raw materials upon which our community was built have not been diminished.
We also have the advantage of the wisdom gleaned in the past 36 years.
First, we know that we can take a place smashed to smithereens and rebuild it even better than before. We didn't know that 36 years ago - there were doubters and deserters - but we know it now.
Second, we have learned that through cooperation our coastal community is even greater than the sum of its individual parts. Shoulder to shoulder and sharing the same goal, our individual cities - as diverse as the personalities that populate them - can move mountains and that even greater obstacle: governments.
We have learned not to helplessly throw up our hands toward Jackson and Washington and say, "Do something!" but to put our best heads together, formulate a plan and say to our elected representatives, "This is what we, together, want you to do."
Finally, we have learned that growth can be smart... that business, residential and industrial growth can complement rather than conflict with a unified vision of what our Coast can become... that we need not and should not sacrifice our natural resources on the path toward tomorrow.
The proud flags that symbolized "Together We Build" after Hurricane Camille can today symbolize "Together We Re-Build." Despite all that we have lost, we're starting with more wisdom, more experience and more people than in 1969. We can do it.
And, as in 1969, we will try to locate a supply of American flags so that every rebuilding site, small or large, and every flag pole, bent or straight, can proclaim to the rest of the world: Together, we're rebuilding.
The editorials above represent the views of the Sun Herald editorial board: President-Publisher Ricky R. Mathews, Vice President and Executive Editor Stan Tiner, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Flora S. Point, Opinion Page Editor Marie Harris and Associate Editor Tony Biffle. Opinions expressed by columnists, cartoonists and letter writers on these pages are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board.
I do not choose to be a common man
It is my right to be uncommon...
If I can. I seek opportunity... Not security.
I do not wish to be a kept citizen,
Humbled and dulled by having the state to dream and build, to
Fail and succeed.
I refuse to barter incentive for a dole.
I prefer the challenges of life to the
Guaranteed existence; the thrill of
Fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia.
I will not trade freedom for beneficence
Nor my dignity for a hand out. I will
Never cower before any master nor bend
to any threat.
It is my heritage to stand erect,
proud, and unafraid; to think and act for
myself; enjoy the benefits of my
creations; and to face the world boldly
and say, "This I have done with my own hand,
I am a man. I am an American.
By Dean Alfange
My mother decided to send me some of my father's belongings, and they are amazing many photo's letter items
that warm a daughter's heart.
Amongst his paper's was the "An American's Creed" while all the photo's and awards brought tears to my eye's when I stumbled across this is amazing essay I felt the need to share it.
I had been working on a tribute (many know that from my previous thread) but my time line changed with the time it took for folks to send items. Having said that, I have many wonderful photo's of my father and his amazing career in the Air Force. I now know this will mean the world to me espcially seeing the items my father saved through the years.
I also share this on this thread as my late father was a Gulfport native.
Behold my new tagline!
That is way terrific. I have a feeling my dad will be smiling upon you.
He did not write it, but, it must have inspired him.
It took some time to find it on the net ... but it was worthy of searching to give the proper acknowledgement's to the author.
Thanks for the comment friend, and feel free to share this with friends and family.
Thank you for your contributions; both today and previously. The FR community is well-served by having you as a member.
Thanks.
What a wonderful comment. Your words touched my heart thank you. I have to tell you FR has amazing folks who share their souls with another.
I cannot think of a better group to call friends.
Have a wonderful day!!
-FMC
bump!
bttt
gunnyg:
I believe you've got the original picture there. I have Joe Rosenthal's "second" picture as my PC desktop background - the one that served as the inspiration for the USMC Memorial at Arlington.
BTW - my American flag has flown in the foyer of my home since September 12, 2001. I'm the only one left in my neighborhood who has kept it up since that day. She's getting a bit tattered and faded, though, so I think I have to take her down to the VFW for a proper disposal and put up a new one. She'll fly at my home as long as I'm there.
Wow! That is powerful and moving, thanks.
It is indeed an honor to be in the company of such patriotic and thoughtful AMERICANS. Your father is proud I'm sure.
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for dinner. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote"
Benjamin Franklin
FMC, this article and your dad's poem are both wonderfully inspiring. Thanks.
bump for later
You are an amazing woman. Thanks for the post!!
Recommend you post the American's Creed seperately.
Thanks for a great post.
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