Iwo Jima Memorial Souvenir

Official, the name is the Marine Corps War Memorial, but its also know as the Iwo Jima Memorial. Perched in a prime position atop a hill, the monument overlooks the Potomac River and the other memorials in D.C. It’s a favorite stop for photographers on the 4^th of July for a dramatic view. The military memorial statue is also just outside the walls of the Arlington National Cemetery and next to the Netherlands Carillon, in the Rosslyn area of Arlington, Virginia. The memorial is dedicated to all personnel of the United States Marine Corps who have died in the defense of their country since 1775. The design of the massive sculpture by Felix de Weldon was based on the iconic photo, Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, taken during the Battle of Iwo Jima by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal. The memorial features Marines and a Sailor who raised the second flag over Iwo Jima. The memorial is made of cast bronze, with the figures 32 feet (9.8 m) tall and the flagpole 60 feet (18 m) long. The memorial was officially dedicated in November 1954, the 179th anniversary of the Marine Corps. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy issued a proclamation that a Flag of the United States should fly from the memorial 24 hours a day, one of the few official sites where this is required. Miniature souvenirs of the memorial are not too difficult to find. These days, most replicas are produced in resin, but the 1960s-era pot metal version can still be found. A bonus is finding it with its original meal flag in tact.