(second from left) Col. Christopher C. Starling, commanding officer of the 23rd Marine Regiment, gathers with World War II Iwo Jima veterans at the Marine Memorial Hotel library in San Francisco March 13, 2013. He was the guest speaker to commemorate the 68th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima with a luncheon ceremony. The event was also an opportunity to accentuate the connection between the WWII-era 4th Marine Division with today's 4th Marine Division and Marine Forces Reserve. More than 100 veterans, modern Marines and guests were in attendance.