Veterans honored at Iwo Jima Memorial

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) -- It was one of the most iconic battles of World War II, the 35-day battle of Iwo Jima in 1945 immortalized by the raising of the U.S. flag at Mount Suribachi.

100 men from Connecticut did not come back from the battle of Iwo Jima. On Sunday, many people were out honoring veterans at the National Iwo Jima Memorial in New Britain.

The memorial is the nation's only Iwo Jima memorial built by survivors. The state and town do not run this memorial. It is run and funded on donations.

"The eternal flame alone cost us anywhere between $340 to $400 a month just to run that," said Gary Roy. "Then the lights and the maintenance. So yeah it gets very expensive."

Total costs add up to about $1,500 each month.

Link: Facebook Support Our Survivors of Iwo Jima