Annual Iwo Jima remembrance ceremony set for Sunday
While the number of military veterans who served in the World War II battle on Iwo Jima is dwindling, the Lee County Marine Corps League continues to hold its annual recognition ceremony in Cape Coral.
The 20th annual ceremony is set for 11 a.m. Sunday at the Iwo Jima monument in the Veterans Area of Eco Park at Four Mile Cove. This year’s theme is “Remembering the past with honor.”
“So far we have 11 veterans who in that battle coming to the ceremony,” said Tim Kenny, Commandant of the Marine PFC Paul E. Ison Detachment No. 60. “The Honor Flight program in our area is run out of Collier County by its founders De. Debi and Sean Lux. They are perfect to be our special guest speakers this year.”
City and county officials will be in attendance along with local police and fire officials and Lee County Sheriff’s Office. An Honor Guard detachment, Guns & Hoses, and local singers will be there. Light refreshments will be on site, too.
When the Marine Corps League took possession of the statue and had it refurbished 20 years ago, 49 Iwo Jima veterans attended the first ceremony. Only 14 came last year.
“We must never forget the hardships endured and sacrifices of these veterans,” said Kenny. “Their selfless actions provided for an advanced airbase and landing strip for crippled aircraft returning from raids against mainland Japan.”
The Iwo Jima statue in Cape Coral is a 1/3 scale rendering of the original statue at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va. It was sculpted by Felix DeWeldon, the same sculptor who created the original statue.
The Marine Corps League invites all veterans and the public to attend and honor the hardships endured and the sacrifices made by these veterans.