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WNMU Veterans Affairs commemorates Bataan Death March in Silver City

Deming Headlight - 4/20/2021

SILVER CITY, N.M. – The inaugural Western New Mexico University Remembrance March held on Saturday drew dozens to walk in honor of servicemembers past and present. This event allowed participants to commemorate the 1942 Bataan Death March.

The Bataan Death March was a forced 65-mile journey 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war embarked on in April 1942 under the guard of the Japanese Imperial Army. The event is being held in honor the military men and women, past and present, who give their all in service of their community and nation.

While 72 participants had pre-registered, even more who attended registered on site. More than a dozen marchers took on the 14-mile out-and-back route, while the remaining participants completed the one-mile Honor March. Each route began and ended on the WNMU campus.

The official Remembrance March began at the WNMU Fine Arts Theater and made the turn at the Ben Altamirano Sports Complex. The marchers began the journey back to the WNMU campus.

At least 20 marchers were veterans themselves marching in the Military category, and a couple registered in the Military Heavy category, committing to carry 35-pound packs for the duration of their journey. Some in the Civilian category carried photos of their loved ones who served in the U.S. armed forces, and others opted to write the name of a loved one they wanted to march in honor of on their participant number. Alternatively, civilians could choose to march in honor of servicemembers buried at Ft. Bayard National Cemetery, as WNMU provided names of those laid to rest locally.

On the steps of the WNMU Fine Arts Center Theatre, a ceremony took place just ahead of each march’s start. Each was led by Master of Ceremonies Tony Trujillo and featured addresses from Lt. Governor Howie Morales, Senator Siah Correa Hemphill, and Representative Rebecca Dow. Members of the local Marine Corps League presented the colors at each as well.

During the 7:30 a.m. ceremony for the longer march, WNMU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Jack Crocker welcomed participants to campus, while Angelica Padilla sang the national anthem. The later ceremony for the Honor March was opened with a national anthem by Mariachi Plata de WNMU and a welcome from WNMU President Dr. Joe Shepard.

The event ended when the last participant finished their chosen mileage.

Water was offered at health stations staffed by local EMTs and WNMU School of Nursing representatives along both routes, which finished in the WNMU Ben Altamirano Stadium.

About WNMU

For more than 125 years, Western New Mexico University has served the people in its region as a comprehensive, rural, public body. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution and the state’s only public Applied Liberal Arts and Sciences university, WNMU is committed to developing cross-cultural opportunities that encourage people to explore new experiences. The WNMU student body represents every segment of southwest New Mexico’s diverse population.

This article originally appeared on Deming Headlight: WNMU Veterans Affairs commemorates Bataan Death March in Silver City

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