Monumental bronze sculpture commemorating members of the United States Marine Corps who have died in service, inspired by the iconic World War II flag-raising on Iwo Jima.
General Information
Open year-round
The memorial plaza may have limited access during summer Sunset Parade events
Parking: Free (limited availability)
No entrance fee required
How to Get There
From Arlington (1 mi): Travel north toward Arlington Ridge, follow signs for the US Marine Corps War Memorial near Arlington National Cemetery, and continue to the memorial parking area on Marshall Drive.
Overview
The U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, better known as the Iwo Jima Memorial, stands in Arlington Ridge Park near Arlington National Cemetery's Ord-Weitzel Gate and the Netherlands Carillon. Dedicated in 1954, it honors all Marines who have given their lives for their country since 1775.
The bronze statue, by sculptor Felix de Weldon, is based on Joe Rosenthal's 1945 photograph of six Marines raising the flag on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima. The National Park Service has managed it since 1955.
What to See
- The six flag-raisers: Harlon Block, Harold Keller, Franklin Sousley, Michael Strank, Harold Schultz, and Ira Hayes
- Inscriptions: "Uncommon Valor Was a Common Virtue" on the front, and around the base in gold, the date and place of every major Marine Corps action
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Marine Corps War Memorial", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
