Latest news with #BattleofIwoJima
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Belfast's ‘Flag Man' proud to ‘express' his culture by flying flags year round
'I have my flags out 365 days a year - they're not just out for the marching season', says Big John Thompson. John, known locally as the flag man, is happy to fly his flags all year round. Posters demanding 'local homes for local people' that had been put up in a loyalist area of Belfast have been removed. Big John Thompson glories in the title the 'Best loyalist in Belvoir' – and he isn't afraid to show it. Standing 6ft 5in, the 60-year-old man mountain has lived on the south Belfast estate for nearly two decades. And it's a toss-up between him and his pet Dobermann Max as to which is better known. 'Around here I'm known as the 'flag man',' he proudly told the Sunday World when we called to see him this week. 'I have my flags out 365 days a year — they're not just out for the marching season. 'These flags and the bunting reflect me and my culture. I keep them in excellent condition and as soon as a flag starts to fray or show signs of wear and tear, I replace it immediately. He added that his neighbours have no problem with his colourful house: 'I'm happy to express my culture in this way and a lot of other residents in Belvoir like it also,' he said. John, known locally as the flag man, is happy to fly his flags all year round. 'I fly these flags every day of the year and, being surrounded by them, I feel secure.' In front of his home John has constructed a special cage for Max so that his faithful canine can enjoy the fresh air coming down from the Castlereagh Hills without placing passers-by in fear. He added: 'Max is an American Dobermann, which means he bigger than the original breed. He likes to see people and acknowledge their presence, which means he barks. That's a dog's way of communicating. 'But I need to be careful because some of the neighbours don't like dogs barking.' Occasionally, John also likes to blast out some dance music. 'I'm a real dance music fan, but I need to be careful. Some of the neighbours aren't keen on it,' he joked. It's not just loyalist flags John displays around his terrace cottage home – he also flies emblems commemorating Allied victories in the Far East during World War II. Posters demanding 'local homes for local people' that had been put up in a loyalist area of Belfast have been removed. 'I have flags remembering the Battle of Iwo Jima and the likes. But I keep them around the back in the shade, to prevent sun rays from bleaching them. 'One of my close friends was in the Gurka regiment and I like to remember him with a special flag also.' All of John Thompson's flags are either union or British and American military-related, with the exception of one. It's a special flag which flies in pride of place above his front door, publicly acknowledging his commitment to Jesus Christ. The Belvoir estate has been the focus of anti-immigrant protests and last week new posters were put up calling for 'local homes for local people'. John said there were concerns in the estate about the arrival of new families. 'Local people believe the housing needs of locals should come before anyone else. It's as simple as that,' he said. 'But really you'd be better asking the Housing Executive about it. It's them who are putting people in here.' Belfast City Council arranged for the posters to be removed in the early hours of the morning. Two years ago, the Sunday World revealed that a Belvoir resident leading anti-immigrant protests in the area had played a major role in one of the most notorious sectarian murders of the Troubles. Michelle Thompson lured 26-year-old mum-of-two Anne Marie Smyth — a Catholic from Armagh — to her death in 1992 in east Belfast. Anne Marie was battered and stabbed to death by a loyalist gang. Days after Thompson was interviewed on BBC TV about the anti-immigrant protests being organised in Belvoir, the Sunday World challenged her about her role in the murder. When asked if she had regrets, she said: 'It was a long time ago. I want to forget about it.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Banners of honor celebrate Chamberlain-Oacoma veterans
May 26—CHAMBERLAIN, S.D. — Along the streets of Chamberlain and Oacoma, more than 100 banners ripple in the wind — each one a tribute to a veteran who answered the call to serve. These Hometown Hero Banners, part of a project launched by the Chamberlain-Oacoma Area Chamber of Commerce in 2022, honor local service members from every branch of the United States Armed Forces. Recently, a new banner was added to the collection — one honoring Graydon Walter Dyce, a Chamberlain native who served in the 3rd Platoon, Company E during World War II. Dyce was present at the Battle of Iwo Jima, the same unit that raised the flag atop Mount Suribachi in the iconic photo captured by Joe Rosenthal on February 23, 1945. "While Graydon wasn't one of the six men in the photo, he was there, standing with the Marines who helped turn the tide in the Pacific," said Taryn Reidt of the Chamber. "We're honored to share his story through this banner." When the program first launched, several fundraisers were held simply to get it off the ground. The goal was to raise over $4,000 — the amount needed to purchase the brackets required to hang the banners. These banners are not mass-produced; they are individually created in-house by working closely with veterans and their families, capturing the details, emotions, and honor behind each name. They are a 2x4 banner, printed front and back, and hung from light poles throughout the community from Memorial Day through Veterans Day. The banner Peggy Hanzlik had made in honor of her husband Mike shares that he was in the United States Army, that he was an SP5 and part of the 101st Airborne Division, and that he served in combat in Vietnam from Dec. 21, 1970, through September 11, 1973. "Through each banner, we preserve not just names, but living legacies — a wall of honor made visible in the heart of our towns," said Reidt. Since its inception, the program has produced 103 personalized banners. The project paused briefly in early 2023 and again in 2024 due to a lack of space. Banner locations are determined by lottery to ensure fairness. When the program first began, banners cost $60 each. Now, the cost has risen to $120 due to increased material and installation costs. That price covers design, printing and display. Sponsorships help offset costs when available. The stories shared through this project are powerful. One mother, while completing the banner application for her son who received a Purple Heart, recalled: "I'll never forget the day we got the call that he was seriously injured. My heart stopped." Over time, wind and weather have taken a toll on many of the banners. Currently, 58 are too damaged to be rehung, and 13 have gone missing. Families can keep damaged banners, or have them reprinted for $50. The Chamber is working to raise $2,900 to replace them so that families do not have to pay again for banners that were purchased. "These banners are a heartfelt tribute by the Chamber of Commerce to honor local veterans who've bravely served in all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces," said Reidt. Community support has been strong, according to Reidt. The Wanalain 4-H Club recently donated funds to replace five banners, and the local American Legion Auxiliary contributed $500 to the restoration effort. "It's inspiring to see young leaders make such a meaningful impact in our community," Reidt said. To contribute or learn more, contact the Chamberlain-Oacoma Area Chamber of Commerce.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
Fremont police first to adopt emergency system for autistic residents
(KRON) — The Fremont Police Department announced Monday that it is the first agency to implement an emergency alert system to try and better help people with autism or developmental disabilities. Code Joshua, authorities said, will help first responders in emergency situations 'recognize, respond to, and safely approach individuals on the autism spectrum.' The alert system was the creation of the nonprofit foundation Joshua's Gift. According to the foundation, Code Joshua 'allows families to voluntarily submit detailed information about their loved ones' specific behaviors, characteristics, and needs.' Fremont teen honors Marines 80 years after Battle of Iwo Jima There are 175 families in Fremont that are expected to voluntarily enroll, Joshua's Gift said. Fremont dispatchers who receive a call regarding an individual exhibiting autism or intellectual developmental disability-related behavior can access the new database to retrieve the person's profile. Cofounders of Joshua's Gift, Kerry Rich and Mizpah Brown-Rich, said that as parents of an autistic child, they have 'personally experienced the fear and anxiety that comes with these situations.' 'Through personalized insights, training, and this new alert system, our secure, confidential platform empowers first responders to interact in ways that prioritize dignity, respect, and safety for everyone involved,' the cofounders continued. Fremont police said voluntary registration can be completed on the Joshua's Gift website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Japanese Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako visit Iwo Jima
April 7 (UPI) -- Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako arrived at Iwo Jima Monday as they begin a tour of memorial visits this month to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. After leaving from Tokyo's Haneda Airport, the couple arrived at the Maritime Self-Defense Force's air station on the island, also known as Ioto, part of the Tokyo village of Ogasawara. The Battle of Iwo Jima took place in February of 1945, which saw an estimated 21,900 Japanese and 7,000 U.S. soldiers killed over the monthlong conflict. The imperial couple were expected to visit the Tenzan Ireihi monument, which was built to remember the more than 20,000 Japanese people who died on the island during the battle in the final stages of World War II, and the Islander Peace Cemetery Park, built to memorialize islanders who died after being enlisted as civilian workers for the now-defunct Imperial Japanese military. The pair are also to appear at the Chinkon no Oka memorial facility, built by the Tokyo municipal government for both the Japanese and U.S. war dead. The visit to Ioto follows a March 29 ceremony in which Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Japanese defense ministers and a delegation from the U.S. attended a ceremony to mark 80 years since the battle. Both the Emperor and Empress are also scheduled to visit Okinawa in June, where the Battle of Okinawa saw the deaths of about a quarter of the population, before their next stop of Hiroshima that same month and then Nagasaki in September. It will be their first trips as emperor and empress to the two cities that were struck by atomic weapons in the last year of World War II.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Japan emperor visits World War II battleground Iwo Jima
Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Monday made a rare visit to the tiny Pacific island of Iwo Jima to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The Japanese island, around 1,250 kilometres (780 miles) south of Tokyo, was the scene of a five-week battle between wartime enemies Japan and the United States in 1945. Nearly all of Japan's 21,000 soldiers on the island were killed during the fight, while the US side saw more than 6,800 fatalities and 19,000 wounded. The royal couple bowed deeply as they offered flowers and ritually poured water at a memorial for the war dead as rain fell on the island, which is known in Japan as Iwo-To. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the island together last month for a ceremony to mark 80 years since the Battle of Iwo Jima. The battle inspired movies and books but is perhaps best associated with one of the most famous photos of World War II -- showing a group of US Marines raising the American flag on the rubble-covered surface of Mount Suribachi. Today the island is off-limits for civilians and decayed warship parts litter its brown beaches, while rust-covered abandoned tanks sit in lush greenery. Efforts to find the remains of the war dead continue on the remote volcanic island, where an AFP journalist said Monday that a smell of sulphur permeates the air. Naruhito's parents, Emperor-emeritus Akihito and his wife Michiko, visited the island in 1994. hih/kaf/rsc
