News : VS students raise money for historically-accurate flags over Iwo Jima silhouette

The Iwo Jima silhouette arrived on Friday at Veterans Park.

Kathleen Steffen

Emily Howes-Vonstein

Thanks to the ongoing relationship between Vinton-Shellsburg High School students and local veterans, the new Iwo Jima silhouette at Veterans Park includes two 48-star flags and a new flag pole, paid for with money from VSHS student fund-raising projects.

The flags will stand as a silent reminder that during World War II, there were just 48 states in the USA. Alaska and Hawaii gained statehood in 1959.

Last year, VSHS students Katheen Steffen and Emily Howes-Vonstein worked with VFW member Ron Geiger and others on a bench in honor of the three local men who died in Vietnam. Volunteers did much of the landscaping around that bench, allowing the students to save money for a future project. Geiger mentioned the Iwo Jima silhouette and the students were happy to offer funds they had raised to purchase a 48-star flag for that project.

The silhouette arrived at Veterans Park on Friday. Members of the AMVETS also played a big role in the project.

See more photos HERE.