Posted on 08/23/2009 7:14:48 AM PDT by shoptalk
MCRD Parris Island needs a hand, and someone needs to step forward to see that it happens.
The Iwo Jima Memorial at Parris Island needs to be replaced and the private sector should raise the money to do it.
The statue by the parade deck is one of the most significant fixtures in Beaufort County. Because Parris Island is one of only two boot camps for the Marine Corps, it's a memorial with national importance.
The memorial depicts a moment in American and Marine Corps history that still is seared in the nation's mind 64 years after five Marines and one Navy corpsman raised the American flag on Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima during World War II.
As soon as Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal's image of the men struggling to raise the flag was published, Austrian-born sculptor Felix de Wheldon created a three-dimensional version of it.
He made two of the statues out of a moldable plaster over a steel framework; they were used nationally to raise money for war bonds. Later, de Wheldon produced a much larger bronze version of the sculpture as the centerpiece for the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery.
One of the smaller original molds was brought to Parris Island and dedicated on Sept. 5, 1952.
For almost 60 years, it has inspired all who train, serve or visit Parris Island. With the number of recruits passing through Parris Island now pushing beyond 1 million, the impact of the Iwo Jima Memorial here is widespread.
Few realize that the statue here was not meant to be outdoors long term. The days of patching and plugging it to keep the interior framework dry and the exterior plaster in place are limited. It's a testimony to Marine ingenuity that it has survived this long.
(Excerpt) Read more at islandpacket.com ...
They just had a graduation Friday. I was almost over run by USMC families on the roads around Beaufort.
Lol,
I was thinking if every person who ever had their pic taken in front of the memorial kicked in $1.00, we could raise the money in a month.
Looks like u owe $4.00...I must owe at least $20!
..every person who ever had their pic taken...etc...
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
That and if every WANNABEE (after the dust settled down) Marine pitched in .50 they would have enough money to rebuild and maintain for a long time...
Semper Fi USMC
Former US Navy
I was thinking that if everyone who was saved by the men that that statue represents gave a dollar, the funding problem would be solved.
This is a great idea....
My hubby (an old grunt) would consider it an honor to chip in.He didn’t serve that long but the lessons he learned at Parris Island stuck with him and still do, 30+ years later.He choked up when he read this article.There’s just something about Marine Boot Camp that leaves a lasting impression on a guy or gal. Thank God,and Semper Fi!
Young men risking their lives to free the world from this 'isms' of socialism, Nazism and fascism, and raise their country’s flag in honor.
Fast forward, and we have a president who looks to impose the ‘isms’ of socialism and fascism on this country, with a close friend and advisor (and possible ghost writer of his book) who walks on the American flag.
The conservative revolution to restore America can’t come soon enough.
I love stupid edicts, by those not qualified to give them.
Refurbish the thing hell it's historical memorial. Stupid is as stupid does.
My son's PI graduation is October 9th (crosses fingers). I'll try to find out where my $8.00 should be deposited.
~ shoptalk
I think normally this is something that could be funded in the defense department’s budget. But with this crowd running the show, most of the allocated funds would end up in some dimrats pocket and the project would never be completed. If the funding, design and installation is done by private companies, it will be much more efficient. The funding could be wrapped up pretty quickly by just spreading the word to current and discharged marines. Working together, anything can be accomplished: Gung ho.
“My son’s PI graduation is October 9th (crosses fingers).”
Congratulations to you & your new Marine! It’s such an amazing ceremony, your heart will be so full of pride, it’s just unimaginable...our last graduation, the mascot Mack (?) retired & his replacement graduated. I was sobbing at the end of the ceremony.
We’ve done 3, 2 at PI. (2 brothers & a nephew in CA.). Now we have to wait for the next generation...
ps: Bring binoculars. Lots of ‘em.
Ordinarily, I’d be agreeing with you.
But by the time this particular “historical monument” is restored by this particular government, we’ll be admiring it from the grave.
I've been trying to find out how many recruits have passed thru PI since Viet Nam. According to 1 site, 250,000 were trained there during that war & since then 20,000 Marines graduate each year.
I know many families that have a personal connection to this monument & would jump at a chance to save it for posterity.
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