Fredericksburg, TX – The National Museum of the Pacific War (NMPW) will honor the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima with a free three-day commemorative event from February 21 to 23. This special event aims to pay tribute to those who served and sacrificed during one of the most significant battles of WWII.
The commemoration will feature a variety of activities spread across three days.
On Friday, February 21, an opening ceremony and Iwo Jima Plaque Dedication will be held at 11 a.m. at the Memorial Courtyard, 340 E. Main St. in Fredericksburg. A reception will be held at 11:30 a.m. in the historic Nimitz Ballroom. A youth panel – Military Service Today – will be held at 6:30 p.m. with a screening of “Sands of Iwo Jima” at 7:15 p.m.
Day two, Saturday, February 22, Rockbox Theater (109 Llano St.) will host the History and Impact of Iwo Jima featuring guest speakers Richard B. Frank, Keil Gentry, Steve McLoud, and Jonathan Parshall. A reception will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. followed by a concert featuring photography accompanied by live music performed by Montopolis.
On Sunday, February 23, they will conduct a Battle enactment at 2 p.m. at the Pacific Combat Zone, 508 E. Austin St. This event is sold out, but walk-ups might still be available on a first come first served basis.
The closing ceremony and reception will be held at 2:45 p.m. There will be a book signing with Steve McCloud and Jonathan Parshall at 3 p.m.
All events are free to attend, but registration is required for Saturday's events and Sunday's Battle Reenactment due to limited seating. A livestream option will be available for those unable to attend in person. Please check pacificwarmuseum.org/iwo for more information and registration.
About the National Museum of the Pacific War
The National Museum of the Pacific War (NMPW), founded in 1967, is the only institution in the continental United States dedicated exclusively to telling the story of the Pacific and Asiatic Theaters in World War II. The Museum annually welcomes more than 100,000 visitors, including at least 15,000 students from across the state. The museum sits on six acres in downtown Fredericksburg, Texas featuring three galleries with more than 55,000 square feet of exhibit space, 40 media installations, approximately 900 artifacts, 15 macro-artifacts, and hundreds of photographs. The Museum is a Texas Historical Commission Property, managed and supported by The Admiral Nimitz Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. For more information, visit http://www.pacificwarmuseum.org. Follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About Smithsonian Affiliations
Smithsonian Affiliations is a national outreach program that develops long-term collaborative partnerships with museums, educational, and cultural organizations to share Smithsonian collections, build collaborative networks, and engage learners of all ages with Smithsonian resources. More information is available at www.affiliations.si.edu.
Photo caption
Iwo Jima Memorial in Harlingen. Photo by Carina A. Brunson.
