Thursday, April 9, 2015

NOLCOM joins nation in commemoration of 73rd anniversary of Fall of Bataan

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 9): NOLCOM joins nation in commemoration of 73rd anniversary of Fall of Bataan

The Tarlac City-based Northern Luzon Command on Thursday joins the rest of the nation in the commemoration of the 73rd anniversary of the Fall of Bataan to Japanese invaders during World War II.

April 9 commemorates the surrender of Filipino and American forces in Bataan after 93 days of gallant heroic resistance against an overwhelmingly superior Japanese force, then equipped with the latest tanks, aircraft, and cannon.

The Fall of Bataan was announced to the country through the Voice of Freedom radio broadcast by 3rd Lt. Normando Ildefonso Reyes -- reading a message prepared by Captain Salvador P. Lopez -- informed the Philippines and the world from Malinta Tunnel in Corregidor:

Bataan has fallen”. Part of the message read says, “Bataan has fallen, but the spirit that made it stand -- a beacon to all the liberty-loving peoples of the world -- cannot fall!”

Thousands of Filipino and American soldiers were forced to march from Mariveles, Bataan to Capas, Tarlac by the Imperial Japanese Forces.

The prisoners initially began on foot but then transferred to freight cars. During the march, thousands of Filipino and American soldiers died due to starvation, fatigue and abuse in the hands of their captors.

The April 9 ceremony in Mount Samat will be followed by another related event on April 10 in Capas National Shrine in Camp O’Donell “Paggunita sa Capas”.

This is in remembrance of those who died during the Death March and those POWs (prisoners of war) who died during its interment at the Capas Concentration Camp.

While on April 11, the “Capas Freedom March” will be conducted in Capas, Tarlac. This activity is a Re-enactment of Death March to inform the public of the hardship that the veterans have endured in World War II.

The march will start from the Death March Memorial Shrine and end at the Capas National Shrine.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=751707

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