The National Iwo Jima Memorial, located on the Newington and New Britain town line, has been closed until further notice due to significant storm damage sustained on Friday night. A fallen tree brought down power lines, damaged a guardrail in the parking lot, and caused the memorial’s Eternal Flame to go out.
Damage Assessment
According to Elaine Schieffer, a member of the Iwo Jima Memorial Historical Foundation, the eternal flame has been out, probably for the first time since 1995, when it was dedicated in memory of all who fought and died in World War Two. There was more damage along Ella Grasso Boulevard, where a large tree branch struck a fence and several tribute flags.
Connecticut Natural Gas has shut off the gas supply to the memorial, while Eversource is handling electrical repairs. The memorial is operated by an all-volunteer staff, which said it is assessing the damage and working to make necessary repairs.
The organization is asking the community for donations to help cover repairs and maintenance. Those interested in contributing can donate through the National Iwo Jima Memorial’s website. For more information, contact [email protected].
Original reporting: NBC Connecticut (Hartford) — read the source article.
