On February 23, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the flag raising, the MacArthur Memorial will host a free screening of the classic film Sands of Iwo Jima (1950).
NORFOLK, Va. – On February 23, 1945, six Marines raised an American flag on Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal saw the men raising the flag out of the corner of his eye and quickly snapped a photo. Within days it appeared in newspapers and magazines around the world. It became the most iconic image of the war.
On February 23, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the flag raising, the MacArthur Memorial will host a free screening of the classic film Sands of Iwo Jima (1950). Starring John Wayne and nominated for four Academy Awards, the film follows a group of Marines from basic training to the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Sands of Iwo Jima is the first film in the MacArthur Memorial’s 5th Annual Military History Film Festival. This year’s film festival focuses on History vs Hollywood. Short introductions before each film will highlight the relationship between “real” history and “reel” history.
The screening will start at 2:00 PM in the MacArthur Memorial Visitors Center Theatre. Please visit www.macarthurmemorial.org for additional details and the full 2020 film festival schedule.