Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue

The photographer of an indelible American image died yesterday. Joe Rosenthal's picture of marines raising the American flag after the battle for Iwo Jima was also the inspiration for the Marine Corps War Memorial, commemorating marines from every era. More than 6,800 American servicemen died during five weeks while taking the eight square mile island in 1945.

Also, it is my understanding the memorial contains 13 hands; twelve from six servicemen and one representing the hand of God (someone alert the ACLU!).