On this day in 1954 the USMC War Memorial aka Iwo Jima Memorial was dedicated by POTUS Dwight Eisenhower right outside the walls of Arlington National cemetary in Arlington, Virginia. The memorial is dedicated to all personnel of the United States Marine Corps who have died in defense of our country since 1775. The statue was based on the photograph of Joe Rosenthal “Raising The Flag on Imo Jima” The most famous of the six marines is Ira Hayes, the American Indian who had a tragic life after coming back from the war.

The U.S. Marine Corps was founded on this day in 1775.