All Hands...British Airways Raises The Flag...

From: James Donovan[mailto:executivedirector@mcwmf.org]
Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 5:07 AM
Subject: Fw: Iwo Jima memorial

Marines, family and friends,
Sunday morning I received a call from The Mail, Daily
Mail of London,requesting a statement regarding the
attached photo and information below.
Personally I find the use of the iconic image of five
Marines and one Sailor raising the American flag above
Mt. Surabachi,repugnant.
I was asked to allow the reporter twenty four hours
before releasing my statement here in the States, so he
might get the story out in London first. This may well be the first
response form the States regarding the use of the flag-raising image.

My statement:
The use of this image by this group to promote their agenda is
inappropriate and repugnant. To do so demeans the nature and character of
the sacrifices and valor for which the Marine Corps War Memorial stands.
This is particularly poignant on the eve of the 65th anniversary of the
American flag being raised over Mt. Surabachi, as veterans of that epic
battle prepare to gather at the War Memorial to honor all Marines the
memorial represents. As the president of the Marine Corps War Memorial
Foundation I cannot strongly enough state our contempt for this group's use
of the image to enhance it's cause.

Semper Fidelis,
James Donovan, President
Marine Corps War Memorial Foundation, Inc.

My inbox is full of raving madmen raving to beat the band over this sacrilege,
and you know full well that something is deadass wrong when I'm the voice of
reason.

Yes. If we ALL got together and DEMANDED it, our active duty brethren WOULD
pull an amphibious landing upon the British Airways headquarters but lets
first give them a chance to make things right.

No one in their right mind would do such a thing, knowing what that
photograph and the attending memorials mean to a Marine.