60 years later, Iwo Jima recalled

The aging World War II veterans who will attend tomorrow's Iwo Jima observance at the State House have gotten a boost from the interest and participation of younger veterans.

"The Vietnam guys have taken over," said Mary Tasker, wife of an Iwo Jima survivor, Lawrence Tasker of Dedham.

"There wouldn't be anything without them," she said, adding that the older veterans are grateful that the younger ones are carrying on the tradition of remembering fallen veterans.

Iwo Jima was a heavily fortified South Pacific island with two airstrips that was held by the Japanese in 1945, preventing American bombers from effectively attacking the Japanese mainland.

Nearly 6,000 Marines died taking the island, and more than 17,000 were wounded. The battle began on Feb. 19, 1945, and lasted about a month.

The State House event was organized by the Metrowest Detachment of the Marine Corps League, which discovered in 2000 that a state-mandated ceremony commemorating the battle had fallen by the wayside. The veterans' group has rallied fellow veterans from all branches of the service to a parade and ceremony every year since.

Tomorrow's observance starts at 11:30 a.m. with a parade from City Hall Plaza to the State House for a brief ceremony, then moves inside the building for community service awards and a gathering.

Newton Police Detective William Byrne will be among veterans recognized for work on behalf of veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Among the attendees will be retired Marine Colonel Frank Deyoe, 84, of Framingham, a survivor of Iwo Jima who says he'll be in Boston with his daughter's help. Deyoe was a first lieutenant in the Fourth Marine Division when the assault on Iwo Jima began, and was one of those wounded.

"That black sand was all over everything," Deyoe said of the deep, dusty volcanic sand that troops scrambled through with difficulty while carrying heavy packs. A gunshot wound to his arm landed him on a ship offshore, an injury he says probably saved his life. This year, the 60th anniversary of Iwo Jima coincides roughly with the 30th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war. Veterans from the two wars now often find themselves together at such events.

Although many Vietnam veterans weren't interested in participating in military observances soon after their time served, that's changing, said John MacGillivray, Natick's veterans agent. Now they are participating more, he said, and beginning to understand that honoring elderly veterans also helps those who are on active duty now.

"It only makes sense that when you're young and just out of the military, you haven't really digested those experiences. But as time goes by, you start thinking you can be proud of your service, that it was an important time," he said.

"If we can't remember one of the outstanding battles of World War II, how are people who are serving today going to feel that the sacrifices they're making are worthwhile?"

For former Marine Jim Hastings, 57, of Bellingham, who was wounded 30 years ago in Vietnam, recognizing veterans of Iwo Jima is only right.

"Those guys are legends in the Marine Corps. It's one of the first things they tell you about in boot camp," said Hastings, who is the commandant of the veterans group. "Honoring them is a part of the Marine brotherhood. You take care of each other right from boot camp."

Alison O'Leary Murray may be reached at amurray@globe.com.