Iwo Jima Parade Marks 81 Years Since Iconic Flag Raising

February 27, 2026

GRIN Staff

Gila River Indian Community

Native communities, veterans’ groups and dignitaries gather in Sacaton to honor Ira H. Hayes

SACATON, Ariz. — The 81st Anniversary Iwo Jima Flag Raising military parade was held Feb. 21 in Sacaton, hosted by the American Legion Ira H. Hayes Post 84 and Auxiliary Unit 84. The event featured a flyover and ceremonies at the Mathew B. Juan–Ira H. Hayes Veterans Memorial Park.

This year’s commemoration drew a strong showing of Native communities and veteran organizations from across the country, all gathering to honor the legacy of Pima Marine Ira H. Hayes and the six flag raisers of Iwo Jima. More than 60 floats participated in the parade, making it one of the largest recent turnouts.

Among the honored guests was Grand Marshal Thomas H. Begay, a 101 year old Navajo Code Talker and one of the last surviving members of the elite WWII communications unit. His presence drew emotional applause from spectators and veterans alike.

Several Native nations and veteran groups joined the procession, including the Yakama Warriors Association from Toppenish, Washington; the Jicarilla Apache Nation Warriors; Tolani Lake Veterans; and the Navajo Hopi Riders. Additional organizations included the American Legion Post 410 Mayetta, Kansas; the Marine Corps League 1328 of Silver, New Mexico; and representatives from the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, among many others.

A delegation from Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana, based in Wailuku, Hawaiʻi, also traveled to Sacaton to honor the connection between Kahoʻolawe and the Marines who trained there before deploying to Iwo Jima—including Ira H. Hayes. Kahoʻolawe, an island sacred to Kanaloa, served as a major U.S. Navy and Marine Corps training site during WWII.

Kyle Kajihiro, an Ethnic Studies instructor at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, carried sacred water from Kahoʻolawe and poured it with reverence at the Ira H. Hayes monument, symbolically linking the island’s history, its cultural significance and the memory of Hayes’ service.

The parade commemorates Feb. 23, 1945, when six Marines raised the American flag atop Mount Suribachi during one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific War. The moment—captured by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal—became one of the most recognizable images of World War II. The document notes that “six Marines raised the American flag… including Ira H. Hayes, a member of the Gila River Indian Community.”

Born in Bapchule in 1923, Hayes served in the Pacific and survived the Battle of Iwo Jima. After the war, he struggled with trauma and alcoholism, dying in 1955 at age 32. He was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Hayes’ legacy continues to resonate across Native communities and the nation. His story has been portrayed in film, music and literature, and remains central to conversations about the contributions and sacrifices of Indigenous service members.

In Sacaton, the annual parade stands as both a historical remembrance and a living expression of community pride, one that continues to grow as more Native nations, cultural organizations and veteran groups join in honoring the life and service of Ira H. Hayes.