"TIME has the utmost respect for our nation's veterans and we well understand the power of the iconic image of the raising of the flag over Iwo Jima," Daniel Kile, associate director of public relations at Time, said in an e-mail to the Business & Media Institute (BMI). "We believe this is a respectful use of this symbol of American valor and courage and serves to highlight another great challenge facing our nation."
The magazine's cover replaced removed the flag in the famous photo and replaced it with a tree.
However, other Iwo Jima veterans that have stepped forward see it differently. Included below is some of the feedback the BMI has received from hundreds of upset veterans in wake of the Time cover:
"As a veteran who was at Iwo Jima before, during and after the invasion, I think anything about the World War should be off-limits to any form of non military promotion or advertisement, especially by any of the present generation of spoiled people few of who appreciate the services and sacrifices of the relatively few of that generation."
"I am a marine, 82 years old that landed on Iwo Jima Feb. 19, 1945. This crap you have on your magazine - you can put it where the sun does not shine."
"As a former Marine and survivor of Iwo Jima, I am canceling my subscription to Time magazine ungrateful bastards."
Time magazine is owned by Time Warner (NYSE:TWX).
