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VOICE TWO:
Joe Rosenthal's photograph became more and more famous. His work earned the Pulitzer Prize.
There was public demand to put the image on a postal stamp. In July of nineteen forty-five, the government agreed. More than one-hundred-thirty-seven-million were printed.
People also demanded a huge statue of the six Marines.
In nineteen forty-six, Felix de Weldon started all over again. First he made a statue out of plaster. Then he used the plaster form as a guide to make the final statue out of bronze metal.
Again, he called on the three survivors. Felix de Weldon wanted to make sure he had them correct.
VOICE ONE:
It took Felix de Weldon nine years to complete the statue. The memorial honors all members of the United States Marine Corps who died in battle since the American Revolution.
On November tenth, nineteen fifty-four, President Dwight Eisenhower led ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery. The burial grounds are across the Potomac River from Washington.
Ira Hayes, Rene Gagnon and John Bradley attended the ceremonies. It was their last time together. Ira Hayes died three months later.
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VOICE TWO:
Millions of people have come to see the statue that Felix de Weldon made. It stands in a grassy area along a busy road at the edge of Arlington National Cemetery, in Virginia. The statue weighs more than twenty-tons.
Each man is almost ten meters tall. They seem about to move. Their bodies push forward as they struggle to raise the flag. Their clothes show the bones and muscles underneath. Their faces show the hard work.
Many visitors say it is an emotional experience. People stand and look up at the six men. And, they take pictures, just as Joe Rosenthal did on February twenty-third, nineteen forty-five.
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VOICE ONE:
John Bradley was the last to die of the six men who raised the flag on Iwo Jima that day. He died in nineteen ninety-four. Felix de Weldon died in two thousand three. And Joe Rosenthal died in two thousand six.
Soon after the photograph from Mount Suribachi was/published, some people began to dispute it. They suggested that Joe Rosenthal had placed everyone where he wanted them, and then took the photo. Joe Rosenthal always said that was not true.
Experts in photography say it is easy to tell that the photo was not posed. They say no photographer would make a picture that hides almost all of the people's faces. And they say no photographer would have two of the people nearly hidden.
You can decide for yourself. A copy of Joe Rosenthal's photograph, and a picture of Felix de Weldon's statue, can be found at 51voa.com.
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VOICE TWO:
Our program was written and produced by Paul Thompson. I'm Faith Lapidus.
VOICE ONE:
And I'm Steve Ember. Archives of our programs, with transcripts and MP3s, are at 51voa.com. We hope you can join us again next week for THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English.
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