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U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial
U. S. Marine Corps Site
On the Virginia side of the Potomac near the northern end of Arlington National Cemetery is the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial and The Netherlands Carillon, with one of the most recognizable statues in American culture. On February 23, 1945, on the island of Iwo Jima in the Pacific, a small group of marines raised the American flag on recently captured Mt. Suribachi. Photographer Joe Rosenthal took a memorable photograph that inspired sculptor Felix W. DeWeldon, who was then in the Navy. The sculpture was created in Brooklyn, N.Y, and the three bronze pieces, which weighed up to 20 tons, were assembled in 1954. The fixtures are 32 feet high, and the flagpole rises 60 feet. The base of the memorial is made of Swedish granite. Funds for the statue and memorial site were donated by Marines and friends. The carillon was a gift from The Netherlands in honor of the American aid received during and after World War II. The 49-bell carillon was dedicated in 1960. In 1995 a 50th bell was added to commemorate the 50th anniversary of The Netherlands' liberation.
Yelp reviews of the Marine Corps War Memorial are shown below. Read Ben A.'s review of US Marine Corps Memorial on Yelp
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Contact Information
National Park Service
Turkey Run Park
McLean VA 22101
703-289-2500
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