What a Memorial!

After we visited Arlington a few weeks ago I was disappointed when I learned that the Marine Corps Memorial was nearby and that I hadn't seen it.  You probably recognize the memorial from the very famous photo it is based on taken by Joe Rosenthal during the World War II battle for Iwo Jima.

A few years ago I read the book Flags of Our Fathers and though parts of it were very graphic it told a valuable story of the Marine victory on Iwo Jima, a turning point in World War II, and specifically the story of the raising of the flag on the island.  You can read more about the battle here.

We visited the memorial on a gray, overcast and rainy day.  The rain dampened my spirits and put me in a thoughtful, almost reverent mood.  The mood seemed appropriate for a visit to the memorial.  At the same time I think a bright, sunny day would have been equally appropriate for remembering the sacrifice and accomplishments of the marines memorialized there.  The sculpture is larger than life size (see the person in the bottom right) which seems to add emphasis to the importance of the Marines' sacrifices.

I believe the memorial does justice to the Marines.  I think it is one of my favorites and while it is a bit out of the way I think it is well worth the visit and recommend it to anyone who visits Washington DC.

The awesome US Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington, VA.

If you look closely in the photo you can see the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial in the background.  This memorial seems to fit in with the rest of Washington DC.