A sculpture depicting the six U.S. Marines lifting the American flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima was dedicated on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at Butler VA Medical Center’s New Castle Road campus. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle
BUTLER TWP — A striking 750-pound piece of art in the image of a historic military event was dedicated on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at the Butler VA Medical Center’s New Castle Road campus.
A painted steel image of the six U.S. Marines lifting the American flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima — complete with a real flagpole and Old Glory waving askew at the end — was the result of the appreciation of one VA patient and a patriotic welding company.
Clarence “Pistol Pete” Hasenflu, 86, of St. Petersburg, Clarion County, was lying in bed in the spring thinking about the exemplary medical care he has received from the doctors, nurses and others at the VA Butler Health Care system over the years.
“I thought, ‘I want to do something for them,’” Hasenflu recalled. “Then I thought about the flag at Iwo Jima.”
The next day, Hasenflu discussed with his wife his idea to have some iteration of the famous flag-raising image placed on VA property. When she agreed it was a good idea, the couple decided to drive around to get ideas about who could provide the image.
They happened upon Swartfager Welding in Knox, Clarion County, parked their car and walked in the door.
“I told them what I wanted, and Ken Swartfager said ‘I’ll do it for you on one condition: I won’t charge you a cent.’”
Clarence Hasenflu, 86, also known as "Pistol Pete,“ initiated the Iwo Jima sculpture project in the spring of 2022 and spoke at the dedication ceremony at Butler VA Medical Center in Butler Township on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. Hasenflu, retired Marine Corps, wanted to show his thanks to the center for "keeping me alive." Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle
Several veterans, fabricators, medical center staff and VIPs attend the dedication ceremony of an Iwo Jima flag raising sculpture at Butler VA Medical Center in Butler Township on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle
Hasenflu, who was police chief in Parker City from 1975 to 1981, collaborated with Swartfager’s drafter, Jordan Chambers, to come up with a design for the image.
“It was a great honor,” Chambers said of making the black-and-white image, “especially working with Pistol Pete and hearing his stories when he came in.”
She said Hasenflu told her he wanted an image of the flag being raised on Mount Suribachi by the six Marines.
“I took it and ran with it, as far as design,” said Chambers, who has worked at Swartfager for a decade. “This is definitely my favorite art project.”
Her boss, Ken Swartfager, was happy to provide all labor and material for the artwork free of charge.
“I knew everyone in our facility would be interested in being a part of it,” Swartfager said. “It was a good idea, and we were the group lucky enough to be asked.”
The art was dedicated under sunny skies on Tuesday with assistance from the Butler County American Legion Riders, who formed a flag line on either side of the dedication ceremony.
The Marine Corps League, Bantam Detachment 743, presented and retired the colors.
Sharon Coyle, Butler VA Medical Center director, said she is grateful that the VA can now share the Iwo Jima art with veterans and their families who visit the campus.
“The artwork is a symbol of the selfless service to country of veterans,” Coyle said.
Hasenflu, who served in the Marine Corps from 1954 to 1957, is sure veterans and visitors alike will enjoy the striking artwork and its meaning.
“I hope people remember all the conflicts we’ve been in and what the veterans have done for this country,” he said.
Staff of Swartfager Welding stand next to the sculpture they constructed for placement at Butler VA Medical Center in Butler Township on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. The sculpture was designed, built and installed by the welding fabrication company. From left to right, Kim Swartfager, Jordan Chambers, Ken Swartfager and Wayne Bearfield. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle
