[USMCRET6391]

QUANTICO MARINE BASE, QUANTICO, Va.

It's an iconic image of the Second World War -- United States Marines raising the American flag on Iwo Jima's Mount Surabachi. It happened 60 years ago today. Last weekend, veterans of the fierce fighting on Iwo Jima gathered in the Washington area to reminisce, to receive the thanks of the Marine Corps, and remember those who never came home.

Herb Newman, an Iwo Jima veteran who lives in Triangle, Virginia, says taking the island was a critical victory for the allies. By knocking out Japanese communications on the island, Newman says Marines saved the lives of thousands of U-S airmen. Newman witnessed the flag raising from a hospital ship.

There were actually two flag raisings. The first flag was smaller -- the second much larger.