What does the Iwo Jima picture/memorial mean to you?

Question

Just wanted to know what it meant to other people, that picture means alot more than words to me. And i read that the photographer died this past weekend

Answer 1

To me it is a symbol of perseverance against all odds.

Answer 2

Joe Rosenthal, as I recall, was the photographer.

My late uncle served on a PT boat in the Philippines/New Guinea region during the war, and once Rosenthal was a passenger. My uncle got an autographed copy of that picture. I don't know where it is now, but probably one of my cousins has it.

Having told that story, I know that the photo was a staged event. The marines took Mt. Suribachi during the heavy fighting on Iwo Jima, and they did raise a flag, but I don't recall all the details.

It may have been a US flag, or perhaps a battalion or regimental flag. The original flag raising may or may not have been photographed.

In any event, photographer Rosenthal was there one or more days later, and he wanted a picture. He got some guys to stage a flag raising, and the rest is history. It's a great photo and great propaganda.

More authentic, I think, and in the same class of "great photos", was Alfred Eisenstadt's Life magazine shot of the sailor kissing the girl in Times Square on V-E Day. That shot was real and spontaneous. And the sailor and girl did not know each other.

A few years ago she was identified and told her story. She was just an office worker in Manhattan celebrating in Times Square when the sailor appeared out of the blue. They were both caught up in the euphoria of the moment, and Eisenstadt caught it for posterity.

Answer 3

I was just thinking about how when U.S. forces were pushing deep into Iraq, some unit pulled out the U.S. flag, only to be reminded that we were not on a war of conquest, but one of liberation. They put their U.S. flag away and displayed the Iraqi flag instead.

Our battle on Iwo Jima was also not a war of conquest, but of liberty. While we weren't likely to be conquered, we still had a right to defend ourselves and other countries that the Empire of Japan had attacked. In a sense, we were fighting for our right to live in peace with the rest of the world. If we had to invade a country to do so, we had justification.

I would doubt that Iwo Jima was being fought under the shadow of Pearl Harbor. With over three years of hard-fought war, Pearl Harbor was not as significant as we make it out today. Instead, we realised that Iwo Jima was one more step to ending a bloody war that was costing millions of lives. At that time, we fought not because it was convenient, but because it was necessary.

I suppose that in our modern society of tolerance that some might find it inappropriate to think fondly of invading another nation's territory. However, if we hadn't taken Iwo Jima, that level of tolerance might not exist today. Instead, Japan and the United States are friends, perhaps economic rivals, but a war between our nations again is highly unlikely.

To me, the sacrifice of thousands of soldiers to get one step closer to peace is something that must be kept in mind. That we raised our flag over the island is not a symbol of conquest, but a symbol that we will not let the actions of our forces, fighting the noble fight, be in vain.

Answer 4

It's easliy one of the most famous photographs ever taken. The memorial in Washington is impressive. It's a fitting memorial for a time when the whole world appreciated the sacrifice of Americans and didn't hate us.

Answer 5

It means I'm in Arlington (where they have the memorial).

I agree it means a lot to me, just looks like they are working so hard to put up the flag....means that we struggle sometimes with what is right, but when we know it is, we can prevail.

Answer 6

The end of WWII, one of the worst conflicts this earth has seen, and the triumph of democracy and freedom over fascism and oppression. And the great role that the U.S. played in winning the war.

Answer 7

It is the summary of all the effort made during WWII to evict the worse nightmare humankind has known from the face of the earth.

Answer 8

It is has become the icon that represents the United States Marine Corps.

Answer 9

To me it means the sacrifices and hard work soldiers endure to help defend our country. It means the chance to be free because of their dedication to protecting us against enemies.

Answer 10

beautiful picture, but as a black american it means little as black soldiers were treated quite poorly while doing equal, or even more magnimous acts of bravery and courage in the war