PHOTO GALLERY | Anniversary of Iwo Jima remembered
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Four attendees of the event were from left to right: George Smith (US Army SGT E5, Vietnam War veteran), George Einsetler (NYPD), Carlo Dambrosi (US Army SPEC4 – E4, NYPD DET 2nd grade), and John Meda (US NAVY, Korean War veteran, NYPD DET 2nd grade). MARK CLIFFORD
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Also attending the ceremony was Vietnam War veteran Sue Roberts (USMC CPL E4) whose primary job was in flight clearance. MARK CLIFFORD
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Marine Corps League Sr. Vice Commandant Matthew Giambrone, USMC LCPL E3 and Iraqi Freedom War veteran, goes over the ceremony schedule with the Honor Guard, the fire department, and the flag folders. MARK CLIFFORD
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In attendance as the “flag folders” were USMC SSGT E6 Wingfield (left) and USMC SSGT E6 Hurtado (right). MARK CLIFFORD
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Seated in the front row was one of three WWII veterans, John Camp, US Navy LCDR O4. MARK CLIFFORD
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T Ross Head (Air Force/Vietnam War veteran - SSGT E5) helped at the Disabled American Veterans tent. Ross worked on B52’s while stationed in Okinawa and Thailand. MARK CLIFFORD
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Three WWII Veterans who were being honored at the Iwo Jima flag raising ceremony were (from right to left) John Camp, US Navy LCDR O4, Vernon Lemkart, USMC SSGT E6, and James Elmer Smith US Navy CPO E7. MARK CLIFFORD
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Marine Corps League Sr. Vice Commandant Matthew Giambrone, USMC LCPL E3 and Iraqi Freedom War veteran, gives the opening introduction to the ceremony. MARK CLIFFORD
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Providing the music for the Iwo Jima flag raising ceremony was the “Guns 'n Hoses Pipes 'n Drums of Southwest Florida”. MARK CLIFFORD
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The Cape Coral Police Department Honor Guard presents the colors. MARK CLIFFORD
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Marine Corps League Sr. Vice Commandant Matthew Giambrone, USMC LCPL E3 and Iraqi Freedom War veteran, sings the national anthem. MARK CLIFFORD
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Attendees of the Iwo Jima flag raising ceremony during the singing of the national anthem. MARK CLIFFORD
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Lee County Sheriff’s Department Lieutenant Angelo Vaughn and USMC veteran CPL E4, Master of Ceremonies Alexis Giambrone, and Marine Corps League Sr. Vice Commandant Matthew Giambrone, USMC LCPL E3 and Iraqi Freedom War veteran. MARK CLIFFORD
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Keynote speaker Mike Pedersen (retired USMC MAJ O4, Naval Academy graduate, Class of 1979, F4 Phantom/F18 Hornet RO, Desert Storm veteran) addresses the veterans and their families. MARK CLIFFORD
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Mike Pedersen presents Lisa Cohen Adkinson with a “Besty Ross” flag replica for her work on the Iwo Jima monument in Cape Coral. MARK CLIFFORD
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Master of Ceremonies for the Iwo Jima flag raising ceremony was Alexis Giambrone, wife of Marine Corps League Sr. Vice Commandant Matthew Giambrone, USMC LCPL E3 and Iraqi Freedom War veteran. MARK CLIFFORD
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The Lee County Sheriff’s Office Firing Party gives the “Three Volley Salute”. MARK CLIFFORD
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Marine Corps League Sr. Vice Commandant Matthew Giambrone plays “Taps” on his electric guitar. MARK CLIFFORD
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USMC SSGT E6 Wingfield (right) and USMC SSGT E6 Hurtado (left) conduct the “Flag Folding Ceremony”. MARK CLIFFORD
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USMC SSGT E6 Wingfield presents the flag to John Camp, US Navy LCDR O4 and WWII veteran. MARK CLIFFORD
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John Camp, US Navy LCDR O4 and WWII veteran is accompanied to the Iwo Jima Memorial with the ceremonial wreath and the folded flag to the Iwo Jima monument. MARK CLIFFORD
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MARK CLIFFORD
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The ceremony attendees acknowledge the mayor of Punta Gorda, Dr. Deborah Lux, US Navy veteran and her husband, Judge Sean Lux, US Air Force veteran, as being founding members of the Collier-Lee Honor Flight program. MARK CLIFFORD
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Dr. Stephan Werner gives the closing remarks. MARK CLIFFORD
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Major Tim Kenny of the Marine Corps League. MARK CLIFFORD
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The Veteran’s Memorial at Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve. It was constructed in 1997 and is one of just three original, one-third-scale models with the other two being in Liberty, Virginia and Parris Island, South Carolina. MARK CLIFFORD
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Inscribed on the Iwo Jima Memorial is the famous quote by US Navy Admiral Chester Nimitz describing the heroism displayed by US Navy and US Marine Corps forces fighting at the battle of Iwo Jima. MARK CLIFFORD
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John Camp, US Navy LCDR O4 and WWII veteran is accompanied to the Iwo Jima Memorial with the ceremonial wreath and the folded flag to the Iwo Jima monument. MARK CLIFFORD
The 81st anniversary of the raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima during World War II was held March 22 at Veterans Memorial Park in Cape Coral. The event was hosted by the Pfc. Paul E. Ison Detachment 60 Marine Corps League. ALL PHOTOS BY MARK CLIFFORD