Reconciling Iwo Jima-- Part 3: A Joint Ceremony and the "Very Ethos" of the Corps

Former Sgt. John Roy Coltrane, 93, of Siler City, N.C. said, "I hated them. For 40 years, I wouldn't even buy anything made in japan.  But now i drive a Honda."

Speeches at the Reunion of Honor ceremony, held near the beaches where the Americans landed were made by senior Japanese  politicians and descendants of the few Japanese soldiers who survived the battle.  Also speaking were U.S. secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Gen. Joseph Dunford, commandant of the USMC, who said that the Battle of Iwo Jima remains the "very ethos" of the Corps.

This was the first time that Japanese cabinet officials attended the ceremony which is now in its 16th year.  The presence of veterans, however, has been sadly dwindling.  Although for this year, the 500 attending was nearly double what it was the previous year.

After the ceremony, the Americans and Japanese went their own ways to parts of the island most meaningful to them.  The Japanese have erected several memorials to their dead and in the traditional way of placating their souls poured water and placed flowers on the sites.

--GreGen