Memorials to Bataan Death March victims

Plaque in Maywood, Illinois

Across the United States, and in the Philippines there exist dozens of memorials, such as monuments, plaques and schools, dedicated to the U.S. and Filipino prisoners who died during the Bataan Death March. There is also a wide variety of commemorative events held to honor the victims, include holidays, athletic events such as marathons, and memorial ceremonies held at military cemeteries.

Memorials

The Philippines

• In Capas, Tarlac, there is the Capas National Shrine built in the grounds surrounding Camp O'Donnell.
• There is also a shrine in Bataan on Mount Samat named Dambana ng Kagitingan ("Shrine of Valour") commemorating the battle and the march. The shrine has a colonnade that houses an altar, esplanade, and a museum. There is also a Memorial Cross built towering 92 m (302 ft) in height.

Battling Bastards of Bataan Memorial at Camp O'Donnell

• The Battling Bastards of Bataan Memorial commemorating all the Americans that died on the death march and at Camp O'Donnell during the war. Located at Camp O'Donnell, Capas, Tarlac, Philippines.

United States

• The Bataan Bridge in Carlsbad, New Mexico commemorates the victims of the march.
• The Bataan–Corregidor Memorial Bridge in Chicago, Illinois, where State Street crosses the Chicago River, commemorates the defenders of Bataan and Corregidor as well as those on the march.
• The Bataan Memorial Highway in Indiana, SR 38 from Richmond, Indiana to Lafayette, Indiana.
• Highway-70, through Southern New Mexico was renamed the Bataan Memorial Highway.
• Statue of American and Filipino Bataan survivors resides at Veterans Memorial Park, in Las Cruces, New Mexico
• The "A Tribute To Courage" Memorial in Kissimmee, Florida, at the corner of Lakeshore Boulevard and Monument Avenue. It depicts a scene from the Bataan Death March: two soldiers, one American and the other Filipino, are propping each other up while a Filipino woman is offering water to them. It symbolizes the unique friendship between the U.S. and the Philippines—the two countries fought together during World War II, and the heroism and comradeship between the Americans and Filipinos. It was sculpted by Sandra Storm and is made of bronze. A brick walkway encircles the monument and there are commemorative plaques depicting the history of the Bataan Death March and the Memorial. American and Filipino flags fly side by side. It is the only statue in the U.S. dedicated to the heroes and survivors of the fall of Bataan and Corregidor and the Bataan Death March [1].
• Bataan Elementary School in Port Clinton, Ohio commemorates the 32 men from the Port Clinton area who were victims of the march. [2]
• Bataan Memorial Trainway in El Paso, Texas honors the prisoners-of-war who died in the enemy camp [3]
• Bataan Death March Memorial Park in Spokane, Washington
• Bataan Memorial Building—Santa Fe, New Mexico. The building is named in memorial for the many New Mexico veterans serving in the 200th Coast Artillery (Regiment) during World War II. The building served as the State Capitol Building from 1900 to 1966.
• Bataan Memorial Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico memorializes the veterans of the 200th Coast Artillery (United States) and 515th CA regiments. The park was dedicated in 1943, a monument was added in 1960, and major additions were completed in 2002. Rows of granite slabs are etched with the history of the units and the names of those who served. Each year survivors meet to remember their ordeal.
• Bataan Street in NW Washington, DC (between Massachusetts and Rhode Island Avenues.)

Commemorative events

The Philippines

Every year on April 9, the captured soldiers are honored on Araw ng Kagitingan ("Day of Valour"), also known as the "Bataan Day", which is a national holiday in the Philippines. During the 1980–1990s, the Boy Scouts of America Philippine troop would reenact this march every two years along a portion of the initial route in Bataan taken by the Prisoners of War, who were American and Filipino soldiers, airmen, and civilians. The original Death March was approximately 100 km (62 mi) in length, depending upon where on Bataan the POWs started.

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

The Sacrifices of the Fall of Bataan and Corregidor are commemorated at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, Honolulu, Hawaii every year. On April 9, 2009, Philippines Secretary of National Defense, Hon. Gilberto C. Teodoro gave the "Araw ng Kagitingan Address" (Day of Valor Address) and led in a wreath laying ceremony, attended by US Senators Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka, Filipino World War II veterans, Hawaii government officials, members of the Consular Corps, the U.S. Pacific Command and the Filipino-American community in Honolulu. The Philippine Consul General in Honolulu, Hon. Ariel Y. Abadilla, organized the ceremony.

WSMR, New Mexico, USA

Marathoners along the course of the Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon at WSMR

The Bataan Death March is commemorated every year in March since 1993 at the White Sands Missile Range, northeast of Las Cruces, New Mexico, with a trail marathon known as the Bataan Memorial Death March. The full marathon and 15 mi (24 km) run covers paved road and sandy trails, and is regarded by Marathon Guide as one of the top 30 marathons in the U.S.^[1][2]

Over 6,300 marchers (2011)^[3] participate in both the marathon and the 15.4 mi (24.8 km) run (only the marathon is timed), with members of military units of the U.S. and foreign armed forces participating. Many civilians also participate, usually running in the full marathon, which is timed with awards (but not certified by USA Track and Field). Several of the few surviving Bataan prisoners usually await the competitors to congratulate them on completing the grueling march.^[4]

There are two categories, for both civilian and military divisions, known as "light" and "heavy." In the light category, runners may wear standard distance-running apparel. Marchers in the heavy division must carry a minimum of 35 lb (16 kg) in rucksacks or backpacks; military entrants in the heavy category must wear their Army Combat Uniform (ACUs) or other service equivalent uniform.^[5]

Minnesota, USA

Company A, 194th Armored Regiment, was deployed to the Philippines in autumn, 1941. To commemorate the military and civilian prisoners who were forced to march from Bataan to Camp O’Donnell, an annual Bataan Memorial March is organized by the 194th Armor Regiment of the Minnesota Army National Guard and held at Brainerd, MN. The march is open to anyone with both 10- and 20-mile distances. The march has different categories, consisting of teams, individuals, light pack, or a heavy pack. A closing ceremony is held to award the finishers and pay tribute to the survivors and their many comrades who perished on the death march.

Maywood, Illinois, USA

Since 1942, this small western suburb of Chicago has marked the second Sunday in September as "Maywood Bataan Day." The residents were then calling attention to the over 100 Maywood National Guard troops who were taken prisoner when American forces surrendered at Bataan on April 9, 1942. These men endured the death march, prison camps, "Hell ships," and eventual slave labour in Japan itself. The men were part of Company B, 192nd Tank Battalion. The original Maywood Bataan Day drew more than 100,000 spectators, dozens of marching bands, and celebrities including the Mayor Ed Kelley of Chicago and movie and radio stars. Today's celebration is much smaller, but still draws several hundred. The memorial is supported by the village of Maywood, Illinois and a non-profit group, the Maywood Bataan Day Organization that had in 1999 the local park dedicated as the Veterans Memorial Park. Ironically, the Memorial Park in Maywood is bordered by commuter rail track that now runs trains by Nippon Sharyo, a Japanese rail car manufacturer that used Maywood POWs as wartime slave labor. ^[6]

American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor veterans association

Veterans of the death march held regularly scheduled conventions after World War II. The last convention, attended by 73 survivors from the march, was held on May 29, 2009, in San Antonio, Texas. At the convention, Japanese ambassador to the U.S. Ichiro Fujisaki apologized to the assembled attendees for his country "having caused tremendous damage and suffering to many people, including prisoners of war, those who have undergone tragic experiences."^[7]

References

1. ^ "USA Marathons & Marathoners 2007". marathonguide.com. http://www.marathonguide.com/features/Articles/2007RecapOverview.cfm. Retrieved May 8, 2008 
2. ^ Schurtz, Christopher, "Record Number Gather To Honor Bataan Death March", Las Cruces Sun-News, March 22, 2010, p. 1.
3. ^ Joe Bartels, "Thousands turn out for Bataan Memorial Death March", KOB Eyewitness News 4, March 28, 2011 Accessed March 29, 2011
4. ^ Official Bataan Memorial Death March Page
5. ^ Bataan Memorial Death March Rules
6. ^ Maywood Bataan Day Organization web page
7. ^ Associated Press (Chicago Sun-Times), "Japan says sorry for Bataan Death March 67 years later", May 31, 2009.

External links

• Cabanatuan American Memorial maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission near Cabanatuan, Philippines, the site of the successful Raid at Cabanatuan.
• Manila American Cemetery maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission in Manilia, Philippines
• Bataan Memorial Death March—A 26-mile (42 km) march commemorating the Bataan Death March, held yearly at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, USA, sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
• Maywood Bataan Day Organization Marks Bataan Day on the second Sunday in September since 1942
• Chicago's Bataan–Corregidor Memorial Bridge