First flag raising on Iwo Jima commemorated

Laura Young ECB Publishing, Inc. On Feb. 23, 2026, local veterans and other community members gathered at the Ernest I. “Boots” Thomas Memorial on West Washington Street for the annual commemoration of the first raising of the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima on Feb. 23, 1945, during World War II. On that historic day, Marines Lt. Harold Schrier and Plt. Sgt. Ernest “Boots” Thomas led their platoon's ascent of Mt. Suribachi and raised the first flag there. [caption id="attachment_60236" alig