Before turning to some interesting moments in February military history, I want to recognize American Legion Post 202, which hosted its annual Winter Classic Feb.14. This unique fundraiser, a softball tournament played in the snow, brought together 19 teams for a day of fun, camaraderie and good-natured competition. Highly competitive teams came from up north in Fryeburg, and south from New Hampshire, as well as locally, to participate. And then there were teams made up of members who never played softball, much less in the snow, like the team from the Lewiston Androscoggin Bank.  And, the support of the VA, who always fields a team for this event, is really appreciated. Maine Veterans in Need is deeply grateful to Post 202 and everyone who participated. Events like this show how strong our community is in supporting homeless veterans, even in the depths of winter.

While researching this article, I focused on military events that occurred during the second half of February. One of the earliest and most significant dates is Feb. 15, 1898, when the battleship USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor. That tragedy became the catalyst for the Spanish-American War, although historians continue to debate whether the explosion was caused by an external attack or was the result of an internal accident.

Fast-forward nearly a century to Feb. 28, 1991, the official end of Operation Desert Storm. While the conflict was relatively brief, it came at a cost, 299 American service members lost their lives. For many veterans, the war marked a turning point in modern military operations and coalition warfare.

Perhaps the most iconic February military event occurred on Feb. 23, 1945, during the Battle of Iwo Jima, when U.S. forces raised the American flag atop Mount Suribachi. What many people do not realize is that two flags were raised that day, a smaller, less visible, flag first, followed later by the larger flag captured in the famous photograph that inspired the Marine Corps War Memorial.

According to the U.S. Marine Corps, a formal review was conducted decades later to ensure historical accuracy. In 2016, Marine Corps leadership reconvened a panel to examine both flag-raising events. As a result, official records were amended to more accurately identify the Marines and Navy corpsman involved in the first flag raising. A separate review also clarified that a different Marine participated in the second, photographed raising than had long been believed.

Marine Corps leadership emphasized that everyone involved, whether raising the flag, securing the summit, or supporting the mission, played a vital role. Their combined efforts produced one of the most enduring symbols of American service and sacrifice.

One final detail I find especially meaningful: among those involved in the first flag raising was a Navy corpsman, a reminder of the close bond between Marines and Navy medical personnel, and the risks they share on the battlefield.

Our history matters. Getting it right honors not only those who served, but also the families who carry their legacy forward.