‘March for a Veteran’ to commemorate WW2 Death March

On April 9, 1942, more than 78,000 Filipino and American troops surrendered to Japan after a gallant last stand in Bataan during World War 2 in what is now known as Araw ng Kagitingan.

From Mariveles and Bagac towns, the prisoners of war (POWs) from the US Army Forces in the Far east (USAFFE) were forced to walk 88 kilometers under the scorching summer sun to the train station in San Fernando, Pampanga, where they were loaded onto jampacked freight coaches for a three-hour ride to Capas, Tarlac.

From the train station, they were forced to do another 7-km walk to Camp O’Donell where they would be incarcerated. Only 54,000 reached the concentration camp, as up to 10,000 died or were killed along the road on what has come to be known as the Death March, regarded as among history’s worst war crimes. Thousands more died due to famine, disease and poor sanitation until their liberation in 1945.

This uncommon valor is relived 77 years later at the Capas Freedom March (CFM), which gathers likeminded and freedom-loving civil society groups, government agencies, the military establishment and the private sector to mark the fateful event.

Presented by the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP), Tourism Promotions Board and the Department of Tourism-Region III, the 10km pre-dawn walk is set on April 11 to memorialize the World War 2 dead.

Now on its fourth year, the event is themed “March for a Veteran” and will kick off from the People’s Park and conclude at the Capas National Shrine where the commemorative program will be held.

AAP Travel president Mina Gabor said the annual march is the national auto club’s social responsibility in promoting patriotism to help Filipinos appreciate the country’s rich history and culture.

Held in cooperation with the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) and the Municipality of Capas, the march will be led by Sen. Richard Gordon and participated in by military personnel, government employees, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and WW 2 veterans’ relatives.

Started in 2015, previous CFM editions were led by former president Fidel Ramos and PVAO officials.

For details, log on to capasfreedommarch.com.ph or visit 4th Capas Freedom March Facebook page.