Community of one: from our families ... to your families.

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1) Under the state and national flags, Medal of Honor Recipients (from left) Don Ballard, Bob O'Malley, Drew Dix, David McNerney, Jack Lucas, and Col. James Stone dedicate a memorial tree for first time visitor, Lucas, to Gainesville, Texas. Gainesville established a program eight years ago, which invites Recipients to visit Gainesville; so far, 19 have accepted the invitation. (Photo by Gary Alexander)

2) Vietnam Medal of Honor Recipient David McNerney talks with Texas A&M cadets during this year's "Medal of Honor Weekend," hosted by Gainesville, Texas. Each year the small north Texas town plants an oak tree in honor of each Recipient who visits the "Medal of Honor Host City Program" community--the only one in the nation. Thus far, 19 Recipients have been honored in this way. (Photo by Gary Alexander)

3) Marine Iwo Jima Medal of Honor Recipient, Jack Lucas, is assisted by a young Marine during last September's Congressional Medal of Honor Society convention in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Lucas, one of only three surviving Recipients from the famous World War II battle, was also a recent guest of the Gainesville, Texas Medal of Honor Host City Program where he signed copies of his book, Indestructible. Several Host City Program officers were invited to the annual gathering. (Photo by Gary Alexander)

4) Medal of Honor Recipient Drew Dix waves from a vintage WWII Jeep during Gainesville, Texas' annual parade, part of a weekend celebration hosted by the community's "Medal of Honor Host City Program." Dix was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the 1968 Tet Offensive, which are recounted in his combat memoir, Rescue of River City. (Photo by Gary Alexander)

5) Colonel Bob Howard, the most decorated living member of the United States military and new President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. (Photo by Gary Alexander)

IN HONOR OF VETERANS on Veterans Day, 11 November 2007

We at EP wish to recognize and owe a great debt of gratitude to all the men and women who have served and are serving now.

Community of One From Our Families ... To Your Families Two Flag's Raised on Mount Suribachi

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On Friday, February 23, D plus 4, a 40-man combat team consisting of a handful of men from battalion headquarters and the remnants of 3rd Platoon in Company E, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division under the command of Company E's executive officer, Lieutenant Harold G. Schrier, successfully scaled HOTROCKS, the code name for Mount Suribachi. At the top a Marine picked up a length of iron pipe and secured a small American flag that measured 28" X 54" brought up by the platoon. The first flag was raised between 1020 and 103. Technical Sergeant Louis R. Lowery, still photographer for Leatherneck magazine, took pictures of the first raising. However, the flag was too small to be seen through the haze of battle, which was one account given for a second flag raising, and a larger battle ensign that measured 4' 8" X 8' was borrowed from LST 779 that was beached near the base of Suribachi. A runner, Private First Class Rene Arthur Gagnon, took it to the top of HOTROCKS. The first flag came down at the exact time the second flag was raised. Joe Rosenthal, Associated Press photographer who was ascending Suribachi as Sergeant Lowery descended, arrived in time to take the picture of the second flag raising, which became the most famous photograph, as well as the most controversial, of the Pacific War. Even the time of the raising was controversial. It was given an estimated range of between 1200 and 1400 hours. The battle ensign was caught in the strong north wind and visible to all parts of the island and ships off shore.

The men who raised the first flag were: Sergeant Henry Oliver "Hank" Hansen, Corporal Charles W. "Chuck" Lindberg, First Lieutenant Harold George "Hal" Schrier and Sergeant Ernest Ivy "Boots" Thomas, Jr. They were aided by Corporal Robert A. Leader, and Private First Class Leo J. Rozek, who located a 12-14 foot length of water pipe for the flag pole and passed it to the summit.

The men who raised the second flag were: Corporal Harlon H. Block, Pharmacist's Mate Second Class John Henry "Doc" Bradley, Private First Class Rene Arthur Gagnon, Private First Class Ira Hamilton "Chief" Hays, Private First Class Franklin Runyon Sousley, and Sergeant Michael Strank. (Courtesy of: Jacklummus.com)

Brief History of Veterans Day

Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'" As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress--at the urging of the veterans service organizations--amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971.

Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law, which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on November 11. (Courtesy of www.military.com)