MCALLEN – Over 20 veterans gathered for the revealing ceremony of a sculpture carved by a local World War II veteran.

Harry James has lived in the Rio Grande Valley since 1975; he carved a sculpture of an iconic moment in American History – Iwo Jima.

James donated his piece to the Alfredo Gonzalez Veterans Home.

His iconic monument was inspired by a picture and one of the marines holding the flag is a Valley native.

The Iwo Jima monument started as an award winning news photograph; a journalist captured five marines raising the U.S. flag after a bombardment in 1945.

The original sits in Arlington, Virginia; James recreated it as a symbol of military pride.

For more information watch the video above.