Join “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band at 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 23, for a special concert commemorating the Battle of Iwo Jima exactly 80 years from the day Joe Rosenthal took his striking photograph of six Marines raising the flag atop Mt. Suribachi. Taking inspiration from one of World War II’s most iconic images, the program will present a variety of pieces new and old recalling the sacrifices made by Americans on the way to victory in the Pacific Theater.

Program

Conducted by Marine Band Assistant Director 1st Lt. Jose Toranzo, the concert includes selections directly inspired by the Pacific War, including Hans Zimmer’s The Pacific, alongside works meant to evoke feelings of sacrifice, honor, remembrance and hope in the audience.

Rosenthal’s photograph is instantly recognizable for most Americans. It remains the only photograph to win the Pulitzer Prize in the same year it was taken and has been immortalized in such high-profile locations as the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia and in the architecture of the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia. A symbol of America’s hard-fought triumph during World War II, the image also serves as an immortal memory of the three men in the photo who died fighting during the battle — Sgt. Michael Strank, Cpl. Harlon Block and Pfc. Franklin Sousley.

“In this tribute concert, we honor those who fought at Iwo Jima, recognizing their courage and selflessness,” Toranzo said. “We stand on their shoulders — without their sacrifice, valor and tremendous grit, much of what we have today may have not been possible. I hope our audience takes a moment to reflect on the immense sacrifice made by thousands in service to a greater cause.”

The performance begins with Joseph Turrin’s Regiment of Heroes March, dedicated to the United States Marine Band, and continues with Mark Camphouse’s Of Honor and Forgiveness, focusing on the themes of honor and forgiveness. Also included in the first half are Morton Gould’s March of the Leathernecks, “At the Summit” from Richard Strauss’ Eine Alpensinfonie and Hans Zimmer’s cinematic The Pacific, written for the HBO miniseries of the same name.

“Creating imagery through music is something I try to achieve when programming,” Toranzo said. “Closing the first half, we will perform ‘At the Summit’ from Strauss’ powerful Eine Alpensinfonie. This work is intended to represent the six Marines climbing Mount Suribachi, ending with the grandiose depiction of the iconic image by Mr. Rosenthal.”

According to Toranzo, the second half of the program is meant to “convey themes of youthfulness, aspirations and possibilities.” Fittingly, “The President’s Own” will be joined by 2025 Marine Band Concerto Competition winner Daniel Yeum to close the show. The annual competition invites high-school musicians from across the nation to compete for the chance to perform with the Marine Band.

“We are very excited to welcome Daniel Yeum to the stage as this year’s Concerto Competition winner,” Toranzo said. “It is an honor to share this moment with our soloist who represents not only immense talent, but also the future of music. I also look forward to highlighting Daniel’s musicianship with James Stephenson’s Symphony No. 4, a work commissioned by the Interlochen College of Creative Arts, and John Philip Sousa’s ‘The Northern Pines.’”

For most Americans living in 2025, The Battle of Iwo Jima is a chapter in the history books. On Feb. 22, however, members of the Marine Band will perform at the annual meeting of the Iwo Jima Association of America, members of which continue to preserve the memory of those who fought in the battle. Although eight decades have passed since that time, Americans continue to celebrate the accomplishments of the incredible men and women of America’s “Greatest Generation.”