Naples Marine Corps League in search of a new home for Iwo Jima Memorial

NAPLES

The Iwo Jima Touring Memorial of the Marine Corps League of Naples is looking for a new home in Southwest Florida.

Veterans of the Marine Corps League of Naples look at the memorial and think of their late friend Harold “Pappy” Wagner.

“Pappy spent 36 days up there on the front line and he managed to survive. And he was a great representative of the Marine Corps League here in Naples and an iconic figure in many ways, ”said Bob Young.

An iconic figure, represented by an iconic image. The military struggles to hoist an American flag amid the chaos and death of Iwo Jima in World War II.

Jerry Van Hecke, a member of the Naples Marine Corps League, said: “There isn’t a sailor in the world who doesn’t understand what this float, or this iconic symbol means, it is without a doubt. the most important symbol that the Marine Corps has.

The memorial is in trouble and the Naples Marine Corps League is looking to the community for help in saving it.

They need help finding a new home at the memorial. It was inside Naples Airport but had to be moved and is now outside a church near Goodlette Frank Road.

The memorial is exposed to southwest Florida sun and rain, which can damage it.

“Right now, with the light rains we have, it’s not doing much damage at all. But we would like to cover it before the rain starts again, ”said Nick Marsit.

Young said, “It’s just a reflection of the tremendous commitment and the devastation and the hardships and loss of life that has taken place in the Pacific.” And the veterans don’t want to lose it.

One of the new requirements of the memorial house is an interior space that can adapt to its size. The monument is 11 feet eight inches tall.

If you have an idea of where the memorial might go, you can click here to find out how to contact the Marine Corps League of Naples.