Elwood (“Bob”) Pipping a Navy veteran of world war two, wanted to honor all veterans with a monument. After his research Bob decided to use the most recognized symbol of the war that he was part of. Bob erected the Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima flag raising monument in 1988.

On 17 August 1999 Mr. Pipping died in an automobile accident, in Burlington, Washington while on vacation with his wife Mary Ann. After that date his two daughters inherited the monument Alice (Pipping) Skipper and Linda (Pipping) James at this time a group of veterans requested the opportunity to take care of the monument. The Pipping sisters were delighted to have someone take care of the monument.

Interstate 4 which passed in front of the monument was under construction at that time, and on September 10th of 2002 the veterans were notified by the department of transportation that if the monument was not moved it would be destroyed the next week The veterans were in contact with the Pipping sisters and an agreement was made, if we could find property and erect the monument they would give the monument to a 501-C3 organization. On January 27th, 2004, the 501-C3 classification was granted and the Iwo Jima Monument Corporation was formed.