ional event. The mere size alone leads to the magnanimous importance of this historical event.The memorial is located outdoors on the eastern edge of the Arlington National Cemetery in an open field of about 4 acres. To be truly inspired by this memorial it should be viewed at night. The lighting was designed with such precession that mere words cannot express the magnitude of the event.The memorial is a frozen moment in time, a time when the world was at war in almost every corner. The photograph by Joe Rosenthal immortalized this event so that all posterity could see and hopefully feel the same as he did on that day. The only part of the monument that is not frozen in bronze is the American Flag. The real flag adds to the surrealism of the moment.If you were to remove the outer skin of the memorial all you would find is a functional frame made up of latter’s, cranes, trusses and winches, wires and cables. The memorial was a triumph of organization as much as a work of art. Through the use of projective images de Weldon was able to turn a photo into a masterful work of art. The only change that was made from the original photo was one of the Marines at the base of the flag was rotated inward to add a more aesthetic appearance. The interview was with a Marine housewife who has several members of her family that were or are in the military. She perceived the memorial as a symbol of unity for our nation. To her the memorial is pride in our nation and our way of life. The memorial symbolized a victorious nation. She also commented on the fact that the memorial was designed in such a way as to bring out different emotions from each individual who views it. The memorial not only symbolizes a wartime nation but a peacetime nation as well with the outreaching hands striving for unity and teamwork in a nation that was once on the brink of disaster. Felix de Weldon is presently working on The Colossus of Rhodes a monument measuring 378 ...
