Feb. 23, 2021, is the one-year anniversary of the dedication of the Chaplain Monument to all chaplains who served on Iwo Jima. Next to it stands a monument to all military corpsmen who served on Iwo Jima. Both monuments stand next to the Iwo Jima Monument that stands on the town line of Newington/New Britain.
On Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, a ceremony was held at the Iwo Jima Monument by families and friends along with veterans from across the area of Iwo Jima survivors. The monuments were dedicated by Rear Adm. Gregory N. Todd, chaplain of the U.S. Marine Corps and Deputy Chief of the U.S. Navy. Todd also attended the ceremony as the special speaker. The event was filmed by the Marine Corps filming crew.
These monuments, along with the Iwo Jima Monument, were built with the help of past members of American Legion Post 2.
Iwo Jima survivor Joe Caminiti, along with other survivors, was interviewed that day. Joe's interview was used to promote the event as part of National Iwo Jima Survivors.
Honoring chaplains and corpsmen from Iwo Jima
Bristol, CT
February 20, 2021
Rene Gageon's father carried the first American flag up the Mt. S. He next carried the second flag, larger, up the Mt. and returned the smaller flag down the Mt. to waiting Marines. He was on hand to collect signatures of Marines who were on Iwo Jima and saw the flag.
Joe Caminiti, a member of Post 2, was interviewed that day. He was asked to attend the event in Washington, D.C., but was unable due to a medical problem with his wife. He did not want to leave her behind. Many of the Iwo Jima survivor reunions he attended, she was there with them, making many friends over the years.
Submitted by:
Neal Supranovich
