FLEMINGSBURG — The Franklin Sousley VFW 1834 celebrated the 75th anniversary of “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima” on Sunday.
The seats were filled and the room packed — it was a day to honor not only Franklin Sousley, but all military personnel past and present. The building was filled with laughter and smiles; stories were exchanged and memories passed on.
Sousley, who was born in Hilltop on Sept. 19, 1925, graduated from Flemingsburg High School in 1943, before joining the United States Marines at the age of 18.
He fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II, and was among one of the six Marines who raised an American flag on Mount Suribachi on Feb. 23, in the iconic picture taken by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal.
Sousley was killed in action on March 21, 1945, and is buried in the Elizaville Cemetery.
In this building, in this room filled with veterans proudly dressed, and their families, there was as much triumph as there was sadness to be shared. This celebration was to honor, but also, to convey the message that even now, young military men and women coming home from current wars needed support, too.
Jack Mattingly, from the Marine Corps League in Lexington, conveyed the significance that Sousley had on the Marines, in particular.
“What this means to the Marines, and what Franklin Sousley means to the Marines is great. It’s heartfelt, right here, and we’re up here every year to honor Mr. Sousley and the Sousley family,” said Mattingly. Mattingly is a Vietnam veteran.
Most of the attendees were Marines — it was clear that Sousley was a man who meant something very special to them.
Though not only did Sousley mean a lot to the VFW, but so did his mother. Marietta Graves, of the women’s auxiliary, recalls when the VFW took care of her.
“I can remember when I first came to the auxiliary, we always took care of Franklin Sousley’s mother. We always saw that she had a Christmas gift, a birthday gift, and the men built her a bathroom. We took her on as our special member, and we cared for her down through the years,” said Graves.
Among the crowd Sunday was Tommy White, who was personally thanked by the Sousley and Price family. White was the force which helped to erect the current monument that now marks the grave of Sousley and features a relief of the flag raising.
After a prayer, the crowd dissolved, and one by one, everyone made their way to that monument; to the resting place of Sousley.
A little after 3 p.m., the Marine Corps League of Lexington laid the wreath, and offered a salute to Sousley. A 21-gun salute echoed into the hazy, gray sky, as the playing of Taps filled the air. Everyone was still, silent, gripped by that sad, yet honorific song.
Afterward, everyone dispersed slowly.
