[Partner] Bataan Death March 82nd Anniversary Commemoration on April 13 at SF National Cemetery
/Eighty-two years ago, on April 9, 1942, approximately 75,000 Filipino and American troops of the U.S. Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) were forced to surrender to the Imperial Japanese Army after fighting in the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines. Despite suffering from massive disease, starvation and fighting without any air support, the USAFFE troops were able to delay the 50-day timetable of the Japanese Army by defending Bataan for 99 days. After the Fall of Bataan they were forced to march to their prison camp about 65 miles away under extreme tropical conditions with no provisions for food, water, shelter or medicine. Those who could no longer go on were beaten, bayoneted, shot and some were even beheaded. Thousands died during this march, which became infamously known as the Bataan Death March. It became a rallying cry in the United States as thousands enlisted to join the war.
This year’s commemoration will bring together Filipino and American descendants of the U.S. Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) and civilians during WWII in the Philippines. The program will have the participation from members of the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force), law enforcement and firefighters from the Bay Area, ROTC and JROTC cadets, veterans and cadets from civic and youth organizations. American Legion Corregidor Post 510 will award the WWII Filipino Congressional Gold Medal to several Filipino families whose ancestors fought in the Philippines. Lt. General Edward Soriano, USA (Ret), the son of a WWII Filipino veteran, will lead the award. Other flag officers include VADM Andrew Tiongson, USCG, BG Derek Salmi, USAF, BG Steven McLaughlin, USA, BG Colin Morrow, USA and RADM Jonathan Yuen, USN (Ret).
Brig. Gen. Steven McLaughlin will be the Master of Ceremonies. Philippine Consul General of San Francisco Neil Ferrer will be one of the speakers and the keynote speaker will be Vice-Admiral Andrew Tiongson, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Pacific Area and Defense Force West. Rear Admiral Jonathan Yuen, USN (Ret) will lead the Tolling of the Bells, a series of prayers for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. He will be joined by flag and senior officers of the Armed Forces, local law enforcement and descendants. Music will be provided by members of the 191st U.S. Army Band, the Universal Choir and Soprano Judith Javier-Tiu. A 3-Rifle Volley Salute will be made by The Marine Corps League, General J.C. Breckenridge San Francisco Detachment #10. A flyover tribute to the Missing Man will be made by the Memorial Squadron while Taps is being played.
Bataan Legacy Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) organization, worked successfully with the California Department of Education to include WWII in the Philippines as part of Chapter 16 of the Grade 11 U.S. History curriculum framework.
For more information, please visit our website www.bataanlegacy.org.
