Our Flag Still Waves
Welcome to this web site honoring U.S. Marine Sergeant Michael Strank, leader of the six men who raised the United States flag over the timy Pacific island of Iwo Jima during World War II.
In 2015 several veterans’ organizations from Sgt. Michael Strank’s hometown of Johnstown, PA organized a legacy project to salute the men and women who served in World War II. The goal was to educate the young people of today that they may better understand the extreme sacrifices so many of their great grandparents made for freedom. They were indeed the Greatest Generation. May the life and example of U.S. Marine Sergeant Michael Strank encourage a strong spirit of patriotism among the youth of our community and nation.
May God bless America!
The Strank Legacy Project originally coordinated with the 70th anniversary of the Iwo Jima flag raising. Funds were donated to place a granite monument in a quiet military park in Franklin Borough, Johnstown, PA, close to where the Strank family settled when they immigrated to America.
Next, a number of veterans groups from the Johnstown, PA area commissioned a video documentary, Our Flag Still Waves, about Michael Strank. It is a very personal picture of one young man who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. The story is told by family members, neighbors and local veterans. The narrator is former Pennsylvania Governor and Homeland Security Secretary, Tom Ridge.
The video premiered during a community celebration in February, 2015 at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown. More than a thousand people attended the event. The keynote speaker was Brigader General David J. Furness, U.S.M.C.
The Western Pennsylvania Veterans Groups that organized The Strank Legacy Project are:
- Sgt. Michael Strank Advisory Board
- Veteran Community Initiatives, Inc.
- Conemaugh Valley Veterans
- Marine Corps League League Detachment 287
The Sgt. Michael Strank Legacy Project is a non-profit venture, managed by a volunteer Board of Advisors, with funding managed by the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies.
“The legacy of our veterans lives on through the generations they continue to inspire.”
A new chapter and expansion of the Sgt. Michael Strank Legacy Project was announced November 10, 2026 at a gathering of Johnstown area community leaders, veterans, educators, students, Strank family members, donors, and supporters. The event coincided with what would have been Michael Strank’s 107th birthday and the 251st Birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Also in attendance was Ambassador Andrej Droba, Ambassador of Slovakia to the USA.
While the Strank Legacy Project continues to preserve and promote the legacy of Sergeant Michael Strank and the countless men and women who have served in our nation’s military, the project’s expanded goal now is to:
• Bring educational programs into classrooms throughout the nation to teach students about Michael Strank’s service and the contributions of other American veterans.
• Provide financial support for educational programming and related expenses for student groups.
• Establish Sergeant Michael Strank Fellows Scholarships, beginning in 2027, to support students who demonstrate leadership, service, and a commitment to preserving our nation’s history.
Participants in the project’s re-dedication included:
- Ambassador Andrej Droba, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the United States of America
- Marine Corps League Detachment 287 Johnstown, PA
- John Polacek, US Marine Corps Veteran and Master of Ceremonies
- Robert Eyer, Founder & Advisory Board Member, Sergeant Michael Strank Legacy Project
- •Kathy Strank Kasper, Niece of Michael Strank
Please Support
the Strank Project.
Tax deductible donations help this ongoing effort to remember and honor the lives of World War II veterans from western Pennsylvania and across the nation. Donations also fund the Strank Legacy Project’s scholarships and teacher education programs. Contributions are managed by the non-profit Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, 216 Franklin Street, Johnstown, PA 15901. Phone: (814) 536-7741. Community Foundation website: www.cfalleghenies.org
A professional development workshop for middle and high teachers of history and social studies will be presented on March 15, 2027 at St. Francis University in Loretto, PA.
This workshop meets the continuing education credit requirements for PA Act 48.
A link for registration will be available soon.
