Marines landing on Iwo Jima painting.
I am a United States Marine Veteran. I am very proud of my Marine Corps Heritage. I served with the best Americans our country has to offer, and our Marine Corps Brotherhood lasts forever. In 1995 it was my honor to be at the 50th Anniversary of the Landing at Iwo Jima, Japan. The Marine Corps flew the Iwo Jima Marines and their family members on to the island for the ceremony. Those Brave Marines, who we all looked up to for inspiration, had not been back in 50 years. They were young men when the battle took place, some were only in their teens. To return 50 years later to a place where they gave so much was overwhelmingly emotional for all of us. These men knew exactly where on the island that they lost their Brother, or lost their Best Friend, Platoon Sergeant or Platoon. They knew exactly where they had been shot and injured, and where the bullets came from. On that day we watched them as they told us stories of brave acts that history has embraced. For many, the time that they had that day, they only wanted to spend saying goodbye or giving thanks or maybe arriving at some closure. All were proud and from all accounts seemed to have had a good life.
It was only years later when became older that I could truly see how big an impact that day had on me. I shared that extraordinary day with my Marine Corps Brothers, I got to meet Marines I had read about in history books when I was a kid, I ran on the volcanic black sand of Iwo Jima, I stood at the top of Mount Suribachi, and to this day I am in contact with the Marines I served with.
A couple of years ago I started making the iconic image of the Marines raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. I would make them by request at art walks and art markets right in front of people as I do with all my art. I tell the story of that day and my experience on Iwo Jima. I talk about what I saw and what I felt , I talk about my Marine Corps buddies and my Platoon Sergeant. In July 2020 I started making this painting only on designated days, Marine Corps Birthday, Veterans Day, February 23, 4th of July, and Memorial Day. I will make a few on those days so that the date is also written on the painting with the current year. To this day I still have a handful of volcanic black sands from Iwo Jima.
