It has been called the greatest photograph of all time. It may well be the most widely reproduced, even winning the Pulitzer Prize for photography.

Snapped on February 23, 1945, as our nation was fighting its way across the Pacific as part of the island hopping campaign in World War II, it served as the symbol for the Seventh War Loan Drive; was used on a postage stamp; appeared on the cover of countless magazines and newspapers across the globe; and even served as the model for the Marine Corps War Memorial that today stands in Arlington, Virginia — a timeless symbol of the cost our military members are willing to bear in defending the values, ideas, and principles this great nation was originally founded upon.

Joe Rosenthal's iconic picture of five Marines and a Navy corpsman struggling to raise the flag atop Mount Suribachi on the tiny island of Iwo Jima in the middle of the Pacific Ocean perfectly captures the sense of momentum of six men straining toward a common goal. In this instance, that goal was to mark claim to the most strategic point on the island following one of the costliest battles in Marine Corps history. Its toll of 6,821 Americans dead, 5,931 of them Marines, accounted for nearly one-third of all Marine Corps losses in all of World War II.

Eyewitness accounts confirm that the raising of the flag on the fourth day of the bloody battle of Iwo Jima ignited a wave of energy and enthusiasm that could be heard across the island. Just as the battle was bogging down and progress was reduced to mere inches an hour, the moment that red, white, and blue of our nation's flag was seen proudly flying atop that hilltop, American troops were filled with a new found vigor and vitality. The momentum of that moment subsequently inspired them to push through to achieve the mission of conquering what would become the first Japanese homeland soil to be captured by the Americans.

In my view, this inspiring story of these six courageous men reminds us of the true definition of leadership. That is, it's not designed to be a position we earn or seek but rather is meant to be a responsibility we choose to fulfill, a choice to step outside our comfort zones and do what we can, when we can, where we can to have more impact, make more of a difference, and lead our lives for a higher purpose.

Whether we realize it or not, we all want to lead our lives for a higher purpose. In fact, science confirms we are wired from birth to contribute to a cause larger than ourselves. Sociologist Ernest Becker writes, "Man will lay down his life for his country, his society, his family. He will choose to throw himself on a grenade to save his comrades; he is capable of the highest generosity and self-sacrifice. But he has to feel and believe that what he is doing is truly heroic, timeless, and supremely meaningful."

What Becker is reminding us of is the fact that achieving true happiness and satisfaction in life requires us to pursue goals that are relevant, honorable, and that contribute to creating the kind of society we each desire and deserve. Life cannot be merely about us. If we want to thrive as citizens and as a nation, we must figure out what each of us can do to roll up our sleeves and do something to add value to our surroundings — one opportunity at a time.

John E. Michel is a retired Air Force brigadier general and co-founder of the blog GeneralLeadership.com. This commentary is derived from his forthcoming book, "The Art of Positive Leadership: Becoming a Person worth Following," slated for release this spring.

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