Running for Iwo Jima 2016
Donation protected
My name is Liberty. I am 19 years old. On October 30th, 2016, I will be running the Marine Corps Marathon in an effort to raise enough money to send at least 1 Iwo Jima veteran back to his battlefield before time runs out.
The Battle for Iwo Jima was unimaginable in it's horrors, and many of the men who fought there have no desire to return. But there are a few veterans who wish to make one last trip to the island where they lost their closest friends, experienced the greatest hardships, and became men.
They want to make this trip to honor and remember the comrades who never returned, and hopefully make peace with the nightmares they have been enduring for the last 71 years.
Running the Marine Corps Marathon is my way of drawing attention to this opportunity. It is no cliche to say that time is running out. Two months after his 2015 return to the island, Jim Skinner (above center), a half-marathoner and triathlete himself, passed away. You can see his remarkable story here.
The cost for bringing one veteran back to Iwo Jima is about $6500. This is more than many of them can afford. Really, this is something we should be doing for them, anyway, as a small way to demonstrate our gratitude for the enormous cost they paid back in 1945.
100% of all proceeds will be sent to the Iwo Jima Association of America (IJAA) and used to send an Iwo Jima veteran back to his battlefield.
In 1995, IJAA made a charter with the government of Japan to ensure that veterans and family would always be allowed to make this return trip, that the sacrifices may never be forgotten, and that an enduring bond be established between our countries.
For any donation of $100 or more, I am delighted to be able to offer a vial of black sand I collected from the beaches of Iwo Jima on the 70th anniversary.
This is really a wonderful opportunity to be generous. We owe more than we will ever know to the men who served our country in WWII.
Would you please help me reach my goal?
~Liberty
The Battle for Iwo Jima was unimaginable in it's horrors, and many of the men who fought there have no desire to return. But there are a few veterans who wish to make one last trip to the island where they lost their closest friends, experienced the greatest hardships, and became men.
They want to make this trip to honor and remember the comrades who never returned, and hopefully make peace with the nightmares they have been enduring for the last 71 years.
Running the Marine Corps Marathon is my way of drawing attention to this opportunity. It is no cliche to say that time is running out. Two months after his 2015 return to the island, Jim Skinner (above center), a half-marathoner and triathlete himself, passed away. You can see his remarkable story here.
The cost for bringing one veteran back to Iwo Jima is about $6500. This is more than many of them can afford. Really, this is something we should be doing for them, anyway, as a small way to demonstrate our gratitude for the enormous cost they paid back in 1945.
100% of all proceeds will be sent to the Iwo Jima Association of America (IJAA) and used to send an Iwo Jima veteran back to his battlefield.
In 1995, IJAA made a charter with the government of Japan to ensure that veterans and family would always be allowed to make this return trip, that the sacrifices may never be forgotten, and that an enduring bond be established between our countries.
For any donation of $100 or more, I am delighted to be able to offer a vial of black sand I collected from the beaches of Iwo Jima on the 70th anniversary.This is really a wonderful opportunity to be generous. We owe more than we will ever know to the men who served our country in WWII. Would you please help me reach my goal?
~Liberty
Organizer
Liberty Phillips
Organizer
San Antonio, TX
