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Last modified: 2004-09-18 by phil nelson
Keywords: half-mast | new zealand | usa | fort mchenry | iwo jima |
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Some famous flags that made history: where are they now?

Iwo Jima Flags

BOTH Iwo Jima flags are in the US Marine Corps museum at the U.S. Navy Yard in Washington, DC. The smaller one is the one first raised.

Nick Artimovich, 10 December 1997


I just posted an interesting story to Flagwire on one of the men responsible for raising the American flag on Iwo Jima during World War 2. I'm wondering if any of the other men in the famous photo by Joe Rosenthal have ever been identified, and spoken about the experience?
David Cohen, 21 February 2000


The US Marine Corps War Memorial webpage www.nps.gov/gwmp/usmc.htm identifies the flag raisers as Michael Strank, Harlan H. Block, Franklin R. Sousley, Rene A. Gagnon, Ira Hayes, and John H. Bradley. BTW, the tragic life of Ira Hayes, a Pima Indian who succumbed to alcoholism, is told in "The Ballad of Ira Hayes", recorded by both Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, among others. Ned Smith, 20 February 2000

Both of the Iwo Jima Flags raised in Feb. of 1945 by the Easy Co of the 28th Marine Rgt. are in the USMC. Museum Washington Navy Yard. They were both recently conserved by the noted textile conservator Fonda Thompson.

The story that only the 1st flag survived seems to stem form the recent book Flags of Our Fathers, by James Bradley. He states that the second flag was ripped to shreds, In fact the second flag's fly end was shredded, but the flag survives.
James Ferrigan, 17 July 2000


Star Spangled Banner

I have seen the Star Spangled Banner in the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C.

Bennington Flag

The Bennington Flag (not authentic, but a curious relic) is in Bennington, Vermont

Perry Flags

"Dont Give Up The Ship" flag of Oliver Hazard Perry (War of 1812) and Matthew Perry's flag used to open Japan to the west (among lots of other flags) are at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD

U.S. Capitol Flag during the Pearl Harbor attack

The U.S. flag that flew over the Capitol during attack on Pearl Harbor, then flown in Berlin and Tokyo at the end of the war, is in the H.S. Truman Library in Independence, Missouri.

Nick Artimovich, 10 December 1997


Hillary and Tensing's Flag on Mount Everest

Hillary and Tensing's Flag on Mount Everest undoubtedly blew away in the wind!

James Dignan, 11 December 1997


Wolfe's flag at Quebec

The flag carried by Wolfe at Quebec is not known for sure. Benjamin West's 1770 painting "The Death of Wolfe" takes liberties with what almost certainly happened: Wolfe is shown expiring elegantly and gracefully, as his friends and allies look on concerned. In the painting there is a furled flag, which I can't identify. Again, West probably put it in to add gravity to the occasion. Who can say if there really was vex. content?

David Cohen, 11 December 1997


The flag is the Union Jack of the period, but the West painting is so notorious for its concern for drama over historical accuracy that it is hard to tell if West meant it to be a King's Colour of one the regiments present in the battle. The 15th (deep yellow), 28th (yellow), 35th (orange), 43rd (white), 47th (white), 48th (buff), 58th (black), 78th (buff) Regiments and two battalions of the Royal Americans were in the battle, and each carried a King's Colour (Union Jack) and Regimental Colour (in the colours noted above for each regiment). Wolfe was at the head of the 28th Regiment when he fell. Edward Penny's 1764 painting of the death of Wolfe is far more accurate and shows the battle line in the background having advanced from the point where Wolfe fell, and a King's and Regimental Colour are faintly visible in the battle smoke.

T.F. Mills, 11 December 1997