Joe Rosenthal’s iconic World War II photograph was taken on this day

On this day, February 23, 1945, Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press took the iconic photograph that shows the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima by six United States Marines atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in the final stages of the Pacific War during World War II.

The photograph was first published in Sunday newspapers two days later and reprinted in thousands of publications. It was the only photograph to win the Pulitzer Prize for Photography in the same year as its publication, and was later used for the construction of the Marine Corps War Memorial in 1954, which was dedicated to honor all Marines who died in service since 1775.

The memorial, sculpted by Felix de Weldon, is located in Arlington Ridge Park, near the Ord-Weitzel Gate to Arlington National Cemetery and the Netherlands Carillon. The photograph has come to be regarded in the United States as one of the most significant and recognisable images of World War II.

Know more about the event here and here.