“Maybe there’s no such thing as heroes. Heroes are something we create, something we need. It’s a way for us to understand what’s almost incomprehensible, how people could sacrifice so much for us: the risks they took, the wounds they suffered. They may have fought for their country but they died for their friends.”
– James Bradley (Flags of Our Fathers)
A war movie that is almost not an actual war movie. Yes, there are some fight sequences and yes, this is another movie that is not for the faint of heart. Flags of Our Fathers is based on true events surrounding the battle for Iwo Jima and the events resulting from the raising of the flag atop Mount Suribachi by the United States Marines.
The old saying goes that “a picture is worth a thousand words,” but the picture that inspired these events and the movie Flags of Our Fathers was worth so much more. Iwo Jima was a nasty bit of business for Americans and Japanese alike and the chaos was even worse. What is so inspirational about this movie? It is the underlying message. The love and sacrifices that took place.
Flags of Our Fathers follows the group of Marines and the Navy Corpsman that were in the thick of things and made it to the top of Mount Suribachi. This, of course, came at a terrible toll on both sides, both physically and mentally. So many died, and so many more were wounded. The scars ran deep. After the battle and the raising of the flag, these men were brought home and their story was plastered all over the country.
Why? To sell US War Bonds. I can see how you might think that would be a good gig following one of the most intense battles in American military history, but for most of these men, it was an extension of the nightmare. These men were forced to tell, retell, reenact, relive, and constantly remember the worst and most horrific times of their lives. But they did it. They did it. It was a good cause and it would help their brothers still fighting.
Flags of Our Fathers is a reminder of the horrors and cost of war. The inspiration comes from knowing that there will always be those ready to step up when times are tough. I take great pride in knowing that these men existed. They were real. They cared about the country, about the world, and about each other. This was another example that even in the darkest of places or times, light can be found if you keep your mind and heart open.
To those who came before us, to those who currently serve, and to the future defenders of democracy and freedom, I salute you. Thank you.
Journeyman's Legacy 