Iwo Jima flag-raising photographer dies

My August 16th posting was “Cast Your Vote for an American Hero!” which announced a contest for the Pittsburgh All-Star Public Art Project competition. My friend, Karen Mesaros, designed a star to honor Sgt. Michael Strank, USMC, a Slovak-Rusyn immigrant to Franklin Boro (near Johnstown, PA) who gave the command and helped raised the flag at Iwo Jima.

Coincidentally, today I came across this news item on Yahoo! citing the death of the photographer, Joe Rosenthal, who took the famous photograph that is depicted on the “Strank Star.”

To read more about Mr. Rosenthal, and the immortal image of WWII that won him a Pulitzer Prize, go to Yahoo! News.

And, please take a minute to vote for the “Strank Star” by clicking this link! Thank you!