Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Iwo Jima memorial needs rescue mission
The Washington Times ^ | 9:12 p.m., Thursday, January 6, 2011 | Andrea Billups

Posted on 01/07/2011 6:27:17 AM PST by BwanaNdege

Time and weather have conspired to etch cracks in its structure. The bronze patina that once shone a proud Marine Corps green has dulled to a dingy brown. Water damage has pried loose polished granite panels, and puddles gather at the base. In all — hardly the spit-and-polish shape one expects for a memorial to the most gung-ho branch of the military.

(continues at website)

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Announcements; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: iwojima; usmcmemorial
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last
My Dad helped with the design & construction of the base of the Memorial. My sister & I crawled inside the bronze arms & legs before they were bolted together. We even wrote our names in chalk inside one of the legs.

As a proud USMC veteran, as an American who honors those who fought & died at Iwo and other places in WWII and as a son proud of long deceased his father's work, I hope the restoration is done soon and in a proper manner.

1 posted on 01/07/2011 6:27:23 AM PST by BwanaNdege
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: BwanaNdege

What you said!


2 posted on 01/07/2011 6:46:30 AM PST by null and void (We are now in day 717 of our national holiday from reality. - 0bama really isn't one of US.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BwanaNdege

I agree, but since Obama and his minions are in office, they will put this on the back burner.And if they do restore it, they might PC it up and add dresses and flowers in the rifle barrels.


3 posted on 01/07/2011 7:07:17 AM PST by Yorlik803 (better to die on your feet than live on your knees.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BwanaNdege

It seems reasonable to wonder why, a monument made out of bronze has deteriorated so much in what, 60 years? When others have survived for centuries.

Can’t we build anything right?


4 posted on 01/07/2011 7:12:01 AM PST by Sequoyah101 (Half of the population is below average)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BwanaNdege

It sounds like the recovery plan is just what is needed. Bronze will change in color over time, just like copper pipes or pennies. Give it a good buffing out with some sorta brasso and seal it with a clear coat and it will retain the color and shine for years.

I wish my grandfather were still alive. As a Master Stone-Mason he could determine what repairs would be needed to bring the stone base back to its original state.


5 posted on 01/07/2011 7:19:58 AM PST by NCDragon (If you can't stand behind the troops, try standing in front of them!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BwanaNdege

Thanks for the post. Will make a contribution after I get off FR. I suspect that they’ll have no problem raising the needed funds..plenty of us veterans around to make it happen. I think that 100% of active duty Marines today would like to contribute. Something like a $1/per month allotment..in two years that alone would raise $2 million.


6 posted on 01/07/2011 7:22:47 AM PST by ken5050 (I don't need sex.....the government screws me every day..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sequoyah101

Bronze deteriorates much more rapidly within a 10 mile radius of the Washington monument. The high concentrations of “hot air” emanating from the Capitol and all other government buildings rapidly degrade the bronze patina..


7 posted on 01/07/2011 7:25:01 AM PST by ken5050 (I don't need sex.....the government screws me every day..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

Marine Corps War Memorial Foundation

8 posted on 01/07/2011 7:34:21 AM PST by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BwanaNdege
Don't worry, government union members from the local hood are taking care of the Marine Corps Memorial. /s

Either that, or the military-loathing (they ESPECIALLY hate the "baby killers" in the Marine Corps - just ask 'em) Socialists/Marxists/Maoists (that pronounce Corps as "corpse" - they don't have a f'ing CLUE) recently/currently running the country into the ground have reduced the budgets which allow civilian contractors to properly maintain such treasures.

RESTORE THIS NATIONAL TREASURE TO HONOR ALL THOSE MARINES THAT HAVE GIVEN THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE SINCE 1775, AS WELL AS ALL THOSE THAT HAVE SERVED AND ARE CURRENTLY SERVING.

THIS MUST BE DONE SOON, AND DONE RIGHT.

SEMPER FI TO MY FELLOW MARINES.

9 posted on 01/07/2011 8:08:43 AM PST by DocH (Official Right-Wing Extremist Veteran Seal Of Approval)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sequoyah101
Can’t we build anything right?

It's all about MAINTENANCE.

In how many of those 60 years were military-LOATHING democRATS in charge of the budgets and direction necessary to maintain such national treasures?

I rest my case.

10 posted on 01/07/2011 8:11:39 AM PST by DocH (Official Right-Wing Extremist Veteran Seal Of Approval)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: NCDragon
While I was on the delayed entry plan before going to bootcamp at PI in July 1975, our recruiter took many of us to 8th & I in D.C. to see the silent drill team during one of their evening parades.

I imagine this is still done, and if so, a part of the visit to 8th & I could be going to the memorial and helping to square it away.

This task would be another good way to introduce prospective Marines to the history, traditions, pride, and dedication (among other things) surrounding the Marine Corps.

Who better to take care of something than those that "own" it, or will "own" it?

11 posted on 01/07/2011 8:25:17 AM PST by DocH (Official Right-Wing Extremist Veteran Seal Of Approval)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: BwanaNdege
Family vacation, Summer of 2006:



12 posted on 01/07/2011 10:18:17 AM PST by Yo-Yo (Is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BwanaNdege

After producing “THE PACIFIC” why don’t the multi-multi millionaires Speilberg and Hanks kick in a couple million each and start an endowment that helps maintain and preserve this monument?


13 posted on 01/07/2011 12:08:42 PM PST by LeonardFMason
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BwanaNdege

My late father, a retired Gunnery Sergeant (Commo Chief) contributed to that memorial. What a shame. We can fund $500 lobster snacks and million dollar trips to Spain for Moochelle, but must rely on private donations for this. This ain’t the country I was born in.


14 posted on 01/07/2011 2:39:01 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (Please donate to FreeRepublic, sanity in a world gone mad!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: A.A. Cunningham

Thanks for that link, AAC...


15 posted on 01/09/2011 6:16:17 PM PST by rlmorel ("If this doesn't light your fire, Men, the pilot light's out!"...Coach Ed Bolin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

“We can fund $500 lobster snacks and million dollar trips to Spain for Moochelle, but must rely on private donations for this. This ain’t the country I was born in.”

Think again about whether federal funding would be a good thing......Do you REALLY want the Fed’s involved?


16 posted on 01/09/2011 6:32:57 PM PST by RFEngineer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: RFEngineer

No, but I sure don’t want a private citizen (Mrs. Obama) eating through the Maine & Florida lobster harvests and Japanese Wagyu cattle herd using my money, either. Do you? When was the last time you enjoyed lobster or heavily marbled premium steak?


17 posted on 01/09/2011 6:50:25 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (Please donate to FreeRepublic, sanity in a world gone mad!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

“No, but I sure don’t want a private citizen (Mrs. Obama) eating through the Maine & Florida lobster harvests and Japanese Wagyu cattle herd using my money, either. Do you? When was the last time you enjoyed lobster or heavily marbled premium steak?”

Leave the steak & lobster to the Obamas.

I have the memories and pictures of my Marine dad and my brother and I donning DI hats in front of this memorial. I don’t care if they eat all the lobster in Maine - I’ll help restore the Iwo Jima memorial however I can.


18 posted on 01/09/2011 6:53:41 PM PST by RFEngineer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: BwanaNdege

I visited the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial in November and was surprised to see how unkept it was as well. Especially in comparison to the Franklin Roosevelt shrine.


19 posted on 01/09/2011 11:48:47 PM PST by americanophile
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: americanophile
I visited the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial in November and was surprised to see how unkept it was as well. Especially in comparison to the Franklin Roosevelt shrine.

I was there in May of 2008, and it really looked forlorn. It was poorly maintained (dirty and the pools were empty), and I saw maybe two other people in the hour that I was there.

20 posted on 01/15/2011 3:09:28 PM PST by awelliott
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson