Sgt. Michael Strank, WWII

Sgt. Michael Strank, WWII

Welcome to this web site honoring U.S. Marine Sergeant Michael Strank, one of the six men who raised the United States flag over the tiny Pacific island of Iwo Jima during World War II.

Several veterans organizations from Michael Strank’s hometown of Johnstown, PA organized a Strank Project to salute the men and women who served in World War II. Every day we have fewer and fewer surviving World War II veterans. We want young people of today to know what their grandparents endured and what they accomplished. The world is a better place because of the sacrifices made by that “greatest generation.”  May God bless America. 

Our Flag Still Waves

US Marine Corp monument depicting the raising of the US flag over Iwo Jima

Our Strank Project coordinated with the 70th anniversary of the Iwo Jima flag raising. Funds were donated to place a granite monument in a small military park in Franklin Borough, Johnstonw, PA, close to where the Strank family settled when they immigrated to America.

Next, our local veterans group commissioned a video documentary, Our Flag Still Waves, about Michael Strank. It is a very personal picture of one young man who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. The story is told by family members, neighbors and local veterans. The narrator is former Pennsylvania Governor and Homeland Security Secretary, Tom Ridge.

The video premiered during a community celebration in February, 2015 at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena. More than a thousand people attended the event. The keynote speaker was Brigader General David J. Furness, U.S.M.C.

Click play button for video of Brigader General David J. Furness, U.S.M.C. remarks at video premier.

Additional pages of this web site offer historical detail about the events of World War II in the Pacific. This information was prepared by a local Cambria County history student, Scott Krug. We thank him for his efforts.

The Veterans Groups that organized The Strank Project are:

  • Veterans Memorial Monument, Inc.
  • Franklin VFW
  • Conemaugh Valley Veterans
  • Marine Corps League League Detachment 287

The Strank Project is a non-profit venture, managed by volunteers,
with limited funding through the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies.

Click here to contact us. 

Click play button above for remarks by Dale Wicks, producer/director of Our Flag Still Waves.

Please Support
the Strank Project

Donations help an ongoing effort to remember and honor the lives of World War II veterans from western Pennsylvania and across the nation. Contributions are tax deductible, and are managed by the non-profit Community Foundation for the Alleghenies,  216 Franklin Street, Johnstown, PA 15901.  Phone: (814) 536-7741.  Web: www.cfalleghenies.org

 

Group of Marines on Sirabachi Newspaper Clipping