On Sunday afternoon, April 27, Joe Caminiti - 100-year-old Iwo Jima survivor from Bristol, Conn., and member of Post 2 - held a talk at the newly opened World War II Museum in East Hartford. Joe had the honor of being the first guest speaker at the museum. There he answered questions about his time on Guam and Iwo Jima during World War II. Joe showed sand he collected from the actual beach where he landed Marines on Iwo Jima some 80 years ago. With the help of Neal Supranovich, Post 2 historian, Joe talked and showed pictures of his trip back to Iwo Jima last month to take part in a ceremony with the prime minister of Japan and the grandson to the commander of the Imperial Japan Army who fought on Iwo Jima in World War II. 
The international ceremony was "Reunion of Honor" on the island of Iwoto. The goal was to honor both the Japanese and Americans who fought and died during the battle; to offer an olive branch of peace between both countries.  
Joe was part of returning one of two Japanese Friendship Flags back to Japan at the end of the ceremony. Presently a Japanese paper is covering the story.  
Joe donated a copy of another story the Japanese newspaper did, covering the start of his trip to Iwoto, to the museum for their Iwo Jima Room. The paper was sent to Joe from Japan through the Washington, D.C. contacts. 
Joe is the only one of two survivors east of the Mississippi River, and the only known American Legion survivor to take part in the "Reunion of Honor.