Posted on 01/07/2011 6:27:17 AM PST by BwanaNdege
Time and weather have conspired to etch cracks in its structure. The bronze patina that once shone a proud Marine Corps green has dulled to a dingy brown. Water damage has pried loose polished granite panels, and puddles gather at the base. In all — hardly the spit-and-polish shape one expects for a memorial to the most gung-ho branch of the military.
(continues at website)
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
As a proud USMC veteran, as an American who honors those who fought & died at Iwo and other places in WWII and as a son proud of long deceased his father's work, I hope the restoration is done soon and in a proper manner.
What you said!
I agree, but since Obama and his minions are in office, they will put this on the back burner.And if they do restore it, they might PC it up and add dresses and flowers in the rifle barrels.
It seems reasonable to wonder why, a monument made out of bronze has deteriorated so much in what, 60 years? When others have survived for centuries.
Can’t we build anything right?
It sounds like the recovery plan is just what is needed. Bronze will change in color over time, just like copper pipes or pennies. Give it a good buffing out with some sorta brasso and seal it with a clear coat and it will retain the color and shine for years.
I wish my grandfather were still alive. As a Master Stone-Mason he could determine what repairs would be needed to bring the stone base back to its original state.
Thanks for the post. Will make a contribution after I get off FR. I suspect that they’ll have no problem raising the needed funds..plenty of us veterans around to make it happen. I think that 100% of active duty Marines today would like to contribute. Something like a $1/per month allotment..in two years that alone would raise $2 million.
Bronze deteriorates much more rapidly within a 10 mile radius of the Washington monument. The high concentrations of “hot air” emanating from the Capitol and all other government buildings rapidly degrade the bronze patina..
Either that, or the military-loathing (they ESPECIALLY hate the "baby killers" in the Marine Corps - just ask 'em) Socialists/Marxists/Maoists (that pronounce Corps as "corpse" - they don't have a f'ing CLUE) recently/currently running the country into the ground have reduced the budgets which allow civilian contractors to properly maintain such treasures.
RESTORE THIS NATIONAL TREASURE TO HONOR ALL THOSE MARINES THAT HAVE GIVEN THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE SINCE 1775, AS WELL AS ALL THOSE THAT HAVE SERVED AND ARE CURRENTLY SERVING.
THIS MUST BE DONE SOON, AND DONE RIGHT.
SEMPER FI TO MY FELLOW MARINES.
It's all about MAINTENANCE.
In how many of those 60 years were military-LOATHING democRATS in charge of the budgets and direction necessary to maintain such national treasures?
I rest my case.
I imagine this is still done, and if so, a part of the visit to 8th & I could be going to the memorial and helping to square it away.
This task would be another good way to introduce prospective Marines to the history, traditions, pride, and dedication (among other things) surrounding the Marine Corps.
Who better to take care of something than those that "own" it, or will "own" it?
After producing “THE PACIFIC” why don’t the multi-multi millionaires Speilberg and Hanks kick in a couple million each and start an endowment that helps maintain and preserve this monument?
My late father, a retired Gunnery Sergeant (Commo Chief) contributed to that memorial. What a shame. We can fund $500 lobster snacks and million dollar trips to Spain for Moochelle, but must rely on private donations for this. This ain’t the country I was born in.
Thanks for that link, AAC...
“We can fund $500 lobster snacks and million dollar trips to Spain for Moochelle, but must rely on private donations for this. This ain’t the country I was born in.”
Think again about whether federal funding would be a good thing......Do you REALLY want the Fed’s involved?
No, but I sure don’t want a private citizen (Mrs. Obama) eating through the Maine & Florida lobster harvests and Japanese Wagyu cattle herd using my money, either. Do you? When was the last time you enjoyed lobster or heavily marbled premium steak?
“No, but I sure don’t want a private citizen (Mrs. Obama) eating through the Maine & Florida lobster harvests and Japanese Wagyu cattle herd using my money, either. Do you? When was the last time you enjoyed lobster or heavily marbled premium steak?”
Leave the steak & lobster to the Obamas.
I have the memories and pictures of my Marine dad and my brother and I donning DI hats in front of this memorial. I don’t care if they eat all the lobster in Maine - I’ll help restore the Iwo Jima memorial however I can.
I visited the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial in November and was surprised to see how unkept it was as well. Especially in comparison to the Franklin Roosevelt shrine.
I was there in May of 2008, and it really looked forlorn. It was poorly maintained (dirty and the pools were empty), and I saw maybe two other people in the hour that I was there.
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