• Printer friendly
• E-mail to a friend
• 3 comment(s)
• Recommend

  ( 1 )

• 

Victor Maccharoli- David Kornaus set up a display of Ira Hayes, one of the soldiers who raised the flag on Iwo Jima, at the Veterans Memorial Building in Santa Barbara.

Cube Ad

Display honors iconic Marine Ira Hayes

By COLBY FRAZIER — July 3, 2009

For the next month, an honorary display dedicated to the American Indian Marine Ira Hayes, who is one of the soldiers in the iconic image depicting the flag raising at Iwo Jima, will be on display at the Santa Barbara Veteran’s Memorial Building.

The display, which consists of pictures of Hayes and a collection of medals and ribbons he earned, was assembled over the last year by David Kornaus, a local man who said he decided to honor Hayes after discovering there were no monuments to the man in his home state of Arizona.

When the display is taken down in Santa Barbara, Kornaus said he hopes to find a permanent home for it at a Veterans Memorial Hospital in Phoenix.

“In Arizona, he needs a public display,” Kornaus said. “That’s the proper thing to do.”

Kornaus, who has put together similar displays in his home state of Indiana, said he hopes his monument to Hayes helps keep the man’s place in history fresh in people’s memories.

He said Hayes’ biography is out of print, and the film, “The Outsider,” based on Hayes’ story, isn’t available yet on DVD — all evidence that suggests he’s at risk of fading away.

“He’s forgotten,” Kornaus said, but “he should be honored in a public display.”

The Veteran’s Memorial Building is open seven days a week, but will be closed on the Fourth of July.

Comment on this article

Subject:

Body:

Poster:

Enter text seen above:

Re; Ira Hayes : 7/4/2009

I got a chance to view this display when it was out at the Goleta Community Center last month. A great way to honor a Native American. I truly hope that Dave finds a permanent home for this display. Our Freedom Fighters that risk and at times lose thier lives for this country should never be forgotten for thier sacrifices. Nice job Dave. Good luck on your misson. Thank You J.M.H.

---

Ira Hayes : 7/9/2009

This is quite a display....worth a trip to see. Thanks Dave, for making sure an American hero isn't forgotten. FH

---

Ira Hayes : 7/27/2009

Like many servicemen who spent time on Iwo Jima PFC Hayes had a walking tour of hell. For Hayes (a Native American) it was worse because so many Americans of the day couldn't see past his heritage to see the man who risked all. I sincerly hope his tribe knows that there are people who honor and respect him for what he did during the war. My father was part of the Air Corps on Iwo, it was a place that affected all who fought there. Thank you for helping others remember those the public has far too often forgotten.

RFGC

---