The U S Marine Corps Memorial, commonly known as the Iwo Jima Memorial, depicts one of the most famous events of World War II, but is dedicated to all Marines who have died defending the United States since 1775. The base of the memorial is inscribed with the statement, "Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue."
The Marines commemorated in the statue are in the same position depicted in the historic photograph taken on February 23, 1945, by photographer, Joe Rosenthal.