2/23/1945 - 2/23/2017

One of the most iconic photos of WWII was taken during a battle that happened today. It was something that would be remembered . . . forever. A part of the war that became immortalized in the flash of a camera.

Today, seventy-two years ago, a bloody battle raged in the pacific. The day had grown long, and the troops were tired, though over half of the battle was still ahead of them.
But they had grained ground. Fighting every step of the way for traction against the slippery slopes, the men fought for every bit of soil their foot touched. You never knew if you would live to walk the next step, or if you would fall and be forgotten. But it didn't matter. Your life was small in the larger picture of what was taking place today.
And then, it happened. With a cry uttered in pain, yet mingled with triumph, American troops crossed the crest. They were now off the dangerous beaches below.
Out of the gray ash and sounds of canon fire that had fallen over everything in the near vicinity, something red fluttered in the slight breeze. Suddenly, a cheer went up from the men as they saw what was happening.
Five Marines and a Navy man had fought their way to the front of the crest, and bullets, cannon fire, mud, nor even hell itself was going to stop them.
And in that moment, the flag was raised at Iwo Jima.
A sign to the world that we were not going to surrender. We were not going to back down. We were not going to accept defeat.
No, we were going to fight to win the war. And God help us, we were going to keep peace, even if it had to come through one of the deadliest wars in human history.