Dr. Sledge honored during “Boots” Thomas ceremony

Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. On Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, members of the Monticello community gathered at the “Boots” Thomas Veterans Memorial Park on West Washington Street to mark the 79th anniversary of the first U.S. flag raised on Mt. Suribachi during World War II. On this day in 1945, hometown hero Sgt. Ernest I. “Boots” Thomas led his Marine platoon in a fire fight up Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima, and raised the first U.S. flag on Japanese soil. About two to three hours later, arrangements were made for another group of Marines to raise a bigger flag at the site. Because the photograph of the second flag raising was heavily publicized and used as a model for the Marine Corps