Inspiration Image — IWO photo by Richard Lowery
Straining to lift a heavy water pipe and place it and its five by eight flag at noon on a windy mountain top on a remote island. So why should such a statue even exist, let alone inspire?
These young men weren’t special. Just following orders and executing a task assigned as one of the multitude of tasks they would perform that February day. They were a hodge podge of youth from Ohio, New Hampshire, Texas, Pennsylvania or Wisconsin or even a native American from Arizona. One wasn’t even a native born American. His father and he had emigrated from Slovakia and he had only become naturalized 9 years earlier. Most were under 20. None had been to college. One wasn’t even assigned to do the task, he just pitched in when asked because the pipe was heavy and he happened to be close by. They were tired, dirty and looking forward to catching lunch soon. With names like Strenk, Sousley, Bradley, Gagnon, Block or Hayes, they weren’t famous or even in charge: just men doing their jobs in the cold wind.
Some guy with a camera wandered by and took a quick snapshot as the job was being completed. Just one black and white picture of the many he took that day that even he wouldn’t know was special until days later when the film was developed.
And their effort wasn’t even the first flag pole to be raised on the mountain, it was just a replacement for a smaller one placed a couple of hours before. It wasn’t a victory yet; not even close. It was just the beginning of what would take three more excruciating weeks. So their work that day was of small consequence. Not a big deal.
Half of the men lifting the pipe would be dead in a month. The other half would live longer but with emotional problems. One would die in less than 10 years. And two would live 30 or more years. All three would be reluctant to talk about that day or the weeks that followed.
Then why would someone make a statue of these men from that black and white photo and place it in a location of honor?
Because of what they represented: They were the sons, brothers, husbands, and best friends of America. The average guys that had gone off to fight and die for their country against the worst challenge America had faced since the Civil War. And the picture of the six of them became a symbol of sacrifice, determination and victory.
They were five US Marines and one US Navy corpsman atop Mount Suribachi on the Island of Iwo Jima. It was February 23, 1945.
And the bronze statue of them raising that flag stands proudly today by our nation’s capital reminding service men and women and a nation that bravery and heroism is usually just average Joes and Janes doing their jobs under difficult circumstances. It reminds us of the strength of our diverse nation. It reminds us that by working together we can remain free.
Six bronze men. Who would have thought they could mean so much?
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