73rd Anniversary of raising the First Flag of Liberation on Corregidor, 2018-02-16.
The web master of Coirregidor.org, many years ago, travelled to Corregidor to commemorate the liberation of Corregidor on the 16th of Feb. He invited and encouraged others to go along and so it has become an annual tradition to raise a 48 Star Flag on the Old Flagstaff on Corregidor. This 48 Star US Flag was donated to the Corregidor Foundation Incorporated (CFI) by the Gen. MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk. On the 16th of Feb. 1945 the Allied Forces, Navy, Paratrooper by air and Army Infantry by sea assaulted Corregidor, liberated it and presented it personally to Gen. MacArthur on the 2nd of March 1945, who excepted it and spoke his unforgettable words: “Let no enemy ever haul down these colors”. We like to express our deep appreciation and thanks to CFI for facilitating this commemoration. A special thanks to the Executive Director, LtCol. Art Matibag, his officer in charge on the Island, Mr. Ron Benadero and all the very helpful and friendly CFI staff and contractor personnel. It has been always a very pleasant experience to work together with the Philippine Corregidor Foundation Inc. (CFI) Organization.
I have established an album with 19 pictures in high resolution in this Flickr album URL:
www.flickr.com/photos/44567569@N00/albums/72157693599068565We prefer to conduct the anniversary on the Old Flag Staff, made famous by Gen. MacArthur, although we have conducted it last year at the First Flag Monument because the rigging on the Old Flag Staff was inoperable due to old age and weather.
The CFI organization went out of their way to repair the rigging on the Old Flag Staff. A difficult task, with no crane and the Old Flag Staff is very high. The Filipino can get things done where other, like us, would need expensive equipment or material!
In this forum presentation I show only 12 images and they are much smaller!
Za608. (0a). The old Flagstaff , 16th Feb. 2018, Topside, on Corregidor Island.
Za608. (0a). The old Flagstaff , 16th Feb. 2018, Topside, on Corregidor Island on the day of commemoration of the Allied Forces assaulting and liberating Corregidor.
Za609. (0b). Indeed it was a 48 Star Flag, just like on the 16th Feb 1945
Za609. (0b). Indeed it was a 48 Star Flag, just like on the 16th Feb 1945, that was raised that day by the paratroopers. This Flag was donated to the Corregidor Foundation Incorporated (CFI) by the Gen. MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk. The idea to use a 48 Star flag originated with webmaster of Corregidor.org, Paul Whitman.
Za610. (0c). The dramatic image of the WWII image of Paratroopers raising the first US flag on Corregidor on the 16th Feb. 1945.
Za610. (0c). The dramatic image of the WWII image of Paratroopers raising the first US flag on Corregidor on the 16th Feb. 1945. T/5 Frank Guy Arrigo accompanied by Pfc Clyde I. Bates raised the flag. Photo – courtesy of Corregidor.org.
Za611. (0d). The First Flag of Liberation Monument on Corregidor,
Za611. (0d). The Corregidor Foundation Incorporated (CFI) actually has erected a monument to the First Flag of Liberation on Corregidor; it is exactly at the same spot where it was original raised in 1945. This is a 15th Feb 2018 image. CFI also raised a flag here during the commemoration time.
First Flag of Liberation on Corregidor, it is exactly at the same spot where it was original raised in 1945. This is a 15th Feb 2018 image. CFI also raised a flag here during the commemoration time.
A new pole has been erected in the original hole. It has been transplanted from elsewhere on the island (from near the old power plant) and has been treated for insects so it should last a long time. Col. Matibag arranged for a pulley and rope so that the American flag and possibly a 503d pennant might be hoisted between Feb 16 and March 2 each year. This project is much to CFI's credit, and of course, to Clark and Karen Judy, who sponsored the project in memory of Lt. Clark H. Judy. of the Regimental HQ and HQ Co., who was killed at Monkey Point after ten days on Corregidor. Other people that helped are the Kwiecinski family, Paul Whitman, John Moffitt and Karl Welteke. Photo - courtesy of Harald Klose.
We have a forum page about this project:
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/1766/flag-pole-monumentZa612. (0f). Mr. Paul Whitman and Mr. Ron Benadero at the Old Flagstaff on Corregidor.
Za612. (0f). Mr. Paul Whitman and Mr. Ron Benadero at the Old Flagstaff, Paul has visited Corregidor almost every year in the last 30 plus years, I have visited Corregidor 55 times since 2004. Every time Mr. Ron Benadero, the on-island Manager, has been very helpful to in answering question or responding to our request to visit this or that location on the island, the former Fort Mills. Photo - courtesy of Harald Klose.
Za613. (0j) CFI Personnel and the Security Personnel are preparing the raising of the First Flag of Corregidor Liberation.
Za613.(0j). The old Flagstaff , 16th Feb. 2018, Topside, on Corregidor Island on the day of commemoration of the Allied Forces assaulting and liberating Corregidor on this day in 1945. CFI Personnel and the Security Personnel are preparing the raising of the First Flag of Corregidor Liberation. Photo - courtesy of Harald Klose.
Za614. (0k). Visitors by the Old Flagstaff , 16th Feb. 2018, Topside, on Corregidor
Za614. (0k). By the Old Flagstaff , 16th Feb. 2018, Topside, on Corregidor Island on the day of commemoration of the Allied Forces assaulting and liberating Corregidor on this day in 1945. Some of the visitors, who came, left to Right: John Moffitt-a Canadian who like me visited Corregidor5 over 50 times; John Byrne- an Australian who came with the webmaster; Mike Ross-an American who lives in Makati and visits Corregidor frequently; Harald Klose-a retired German Army Officer who accompanied me for the 5th time now for the commemoration; the last p[erson is Mr. Paul Whitman, an Australian and the webmaster of the huge and very great
corregidor.org/ webpage. Another friend who came with us but did not get on these pictures is Gary Vodika from Texas. Photo - courtesy of Harald Klose.
Za615. (0o). The Flag is going up on the Old Flagstaff , 16th Feb. 2018, Topside, on Corregidor Island
Za615. (0o). The Flag is going up! The old Flagstaff , 16th Feb. 2018, Topside, on Corregidor Island on the day of commemoration of the Allied Forces assaulting and liberating Corregidor on this day in 1945. CFI Personnel and the Security Personnel are raising of the First Flag of Corregidor Liberation. Photo - courtesy of Harald Klose.
Za616. (0r). Mr. Ron Benadero (CFI Official) at the Old Flagstaff on Corregidor.
Za616. (0r). Mr. Ron Benadero at the Old Flagstaff, Paul has visited Corregidor almost every year in the last 30 plus years; I have visited Corregidor 55 times since 2004. Every time Mr. Ron Benadero, the CFI on-island Manager, has been very helpful to in answering question or responding to our request to visit this or that location on the island, the former Fort Mills. Photo - courtesy of Harald Klose.
Za617. (0s). The 48 Star US. Flag has been hauled up, two-blocked, on the Old Flagstaff , 16th Feb. 2018, Topside, on Corregidor Island.
Za617. (0s). The 48 Star US. Flag has been hauled up, two-blocked, on the Old Flagstaff , 16th Feb. 2018, Topside, on Corregidor Island on the day of commemoration of the Allied Forces assaulting and liberating Corregidor on this day in 1945. Photo - courtesy of Harald Klose.
Za618. (0t). The group picture at the Old Flagstaff, 16th Feb. 2018, Topside, on Corregidor Island.
Za618. (0t). The group picture at the Old Flagstaff, 16th Feb. 2018, Topside, on Corregidor Island on the day of commemoration of the Allied Forces assaulting and liberating Corregidor on this day in 1945. In the back row are the Corregidor Security Forces that have helped us now for many years. In the front row are-left to right: John Moffitt-a Canadian who like me visited Corregidor5 over 50 times; Mr. Ron Benadero, the CFI on-island Manager; Mr. Paul Whitman, an Australian and the webmaster of the huge and very great
corregidor.org/ webpage. John Byrne- an Australian who came with the webmaster; Karl Welteke; Mike Ross-an American who lives in Makati and visits Corregidor frequently and his partner Jen; at the end stand one very important VIP-Mrs. Edith-she manages the Freedom Café and has made our stay on Corregidor a very pleasant one-every time! Another friend who came with us but did not get on these pictures is Gary Vodika from Texas. Photo - courtesy of Harald Klose.
Za619. (Ou). The group picture at the Old Flagstaff, 16th Feb. 2018, Topside, on Corregidor Island
Za619. (Ou). The group picture at the Old Flagstaff, 16th Feb. 2018, Topside, on Corregidor Island on the day of commemoration of the Allied Forces assaulting and liberating Corregidor on this day in 1945. In the back row are the Corregidor Security Forces that have helped us now for many years. In the front row are-left to right: Mr. Paul Whitman, an Australian and the webmaster of the huge and very great
corregidor.org/ webpage; Mr. Ron Benadero, the CFI on-island Manager; John Byrne- an Australian who came with the webmaster; Harald Klose-a retired German Army Officer who accompanied me for the 5th time now for the commemoration; Mike Ross-an American who lives in Makati and visits Corregidor frequently and his partner Jen; at the end stand one very important VIP-Mrs. Edith-she manages the Freedom Café and has made our stay on Corregidor a very pleasant one-every time! One of the Security Troopers stepped down and joined the front row. Another friend who came with us but did not get on these pictures is Gary Vodika from Texas.