Marine Corp statue of Mt Suribachi.

[Blanca BusaLess]

This is just gotta be one of the coolest things I've ever bought!
Have no idea what I was doing or looking for but I stumbled on this on Ebay.
No bids so I did, $8.99. Originally sold for like $80. It's about 5x8 inches and depicts the Marines Raising the flag over Mt Suribachi on Iwo Jima. It was a proud time in this nation and a moment in history I'm proud of. I didn't serve but am happy to never forget others have. Great little convo piece for my desk!

Now this is where it gets really cool!

The sand the little men are standing on is actually black volcanic sand from Iwo!
Look closely you can see it. It's clumped and glued on base of statue! How cool is that!

To me this is just awesome! I got goosebumps!
God Bless America and the troops who are serving and have served.

 

[MC MUSTANG]

Saiid,
Here is mine:

 

[MC MUSTANG]

It is hard to think of the Corps without the image coming to mind...

 

[Blanca BusaLess]

Hahahahah! I knew you'd have one! This is just the neatest Lil thing!
I swear the hair on my arm stood up when I first poked that sand.

There is one big difference between our two though.

I paid for mine, you earned yours.

 

[Blanca BusaLess]

So mines 235 years and yours is 226. Both kinda strange years? Do they do this every year now?

 

[Sum Beach]

Very cool find!!!!

 

[MC MUSTANG]

So mines 235 years and yours is 226. Both kinda strange years? Do they do this every year now?

They do different things for different years... This is iconic, and very special for Marines. Not all Marines ever make it to Mt Suribachi; so a Ball gift that contains sand is very special indeed.

 

[MC MUSTANG]

I used to Raise Flags on Iwo Jima when I was stationed on NAF Atsugi in Japan. I consider myself very fortunate to have placed my feet in that volcanic sand and dug my hands into the dirt of the Mountain. It is one of a few places throughout history that stands as something akin to holy land for Marines.

 

[Blanca BusaLess]

It's one place I'd put high on the list of 'want to see'.