Tomorrow, February 19 marks 64 years since Operation Detachment launched on a small island in the Pacific Ocean. Today, known as the Battle of Iwo Jima, it is one the most remembered battles of World War II. Four days into the five-week-long battle, U.S. Marines raised two flags on Mount Suribachi, the second of which was photographed and become one of the most recognizable images of the war and in the United States.
Brylee Lessard, a junior at Crookston High School, recently donated her depiction of the flag raising on Iwo Jima, which won blue ribbons at the Fertile and State Fairs, to the Crookston V.F.W. Lessard was contacted by Polk County Veteran Services Officer Kurt Ellefson about putting it on display and the project can be seen by stopping by Crookston V.F.W. Post 1902.
“My mom and I just brainstormed about doing something with the army and the military because I’d thought about joining,” said Lessard. “I never had any plans for what to do with it, but Kurt had texted my mom and asked to take it. He asked if they could keep it at the V.F.W. and it has been there ever since.”
Lessard’s blue-ribbon winning project was created for 4-H, her third such military themed project. “This is the third project I’ve done,” said Lessard. “The first one was an American Flag and the second one was the Minnesota State with a yellow ribbon inside of it. That one is also at the V.F.W.
