Sands of Iwo Jima Screening in DallasTo mark the 66th anniversary of the most famed battle of the Pacific theater, the Daughters of World War II will present a special afternoon event featuring James Bradley, New York Times best-selling author of Flags of Our Fathers, and a special showing of the 1949 classic Sands of Iwo Jima starring John Wayne at 1 p. m. on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at the Majestic Theatre in Dallas. The event will open with Bradley and other Iwo Jima veterans participating in a live discussion. Bradley will sign books following the movie.

The event is open to the public, tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. In honor of their service, World War II veterans and a guest will be admitted free. The afternoon is sponsored in part by the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth.

“We are indebted to all our World War II veterans. On the battlefield, they preserved our freedom; now we want to preserve their history,” said Laura Leppert, co-founder of the Daughters of World War II.

“While my Father served on Iwo Jima, he never talked about his service.  We will have a remarkable opportunity to learn first-hand from six Iwo Jima Veterans their experience of this pivotal battle,” Leppert continued. “These were ordinary men who performed extraordinary deeds on the battlefield.”

Bradley is the celebrated author of #1 New York Times best-seller Flags of Our Fathers, later made into a critically acclaimed film directed by Clint Eastwood. The book is the true story of the six men, including Bradley's father, who raised the flag in 1945 on Iwo Jima, an image made iconic as one of the most reproduced photographs in history.

The Battle of Iwo Jima (February 19 – March 26, 1945), known also as Operation Detachment, was a battle in which the United States fought for and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Empire of Japan. The U.S. invasion, charged with the mission of capturing the three airfields on Iwo Jima, resulted in some of the fiercest fighting in the Pacific Campaign of World War II.

Nominated for four Academy Awards, Sands of Iwo Jima is a 1949 war film that follows a group of United States Marines from training to the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. It propelled the career of John Wayne, who received a Best Actor nomination.


The Historic Majestic Theatre is located at 1925 Elm Street in downtown Dallas. Advance tickets are available for $15 at www.daughtersofww2.org. Tickets also will be available at the door for $20 (cash only). Group tickets may be purchased for $10 each for a minimum of 10 tickets. Free valet parking will be offered. Doors open at noon.

World War II veterans and a guest can reserve complimentary tickets by sending an email to brendadianneg at aol.com.

Daughters of World War II members will also receive free admission. (To join, go to www.daughtersofww2.org)