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LAS CRUCES - Another record number of participants, a Bataan survivor in his 90s walking at least part of the course, soldiers in Afghanistan staging their own march, and an attempt at a world record are just some the story lines developing for the 22nd annual Bataan Memorial Death March.
The event, which includes a 26.2-mile memorial march and an approximately 15-mile march, begins at 7 a.m. Sunday at White Sands Missile Range's Frontier Club.
"You are in for an extraordinary experience that you will remember for years to come," said Brig. Gen. John Regan, WSMR commander. "As you tackle our course, you will be physically challenged by the altitude gain, the rocks, and the sand.
"But this special event is much more than a test of strength and stamina alone. You will experience a real sense of community with your fellow marchers, the extraordinary volunteers, and the heroic Bataan survivors that will touch your very spirit."
Fourteen survivors of the Bataan Death March, most of them now in their 90s, are expected to attend this year's event. Some of them will be at the start and finish lines to shake hands of marchers.
The event continues to gain public popularity. Last year's march drew a record crowd of 5,400, and march organizers said Monday that 6,075 have already registered for Sunday's march and that could increase to 6,200
Why they march
"I really enjoy Bataan because the focus of the event is on honoring the survivors," said Joe Anzivino, a 54-year-old Las Crucen, who is chief of internal review at WSMR. "... This is history that you really reach out and touch."
Melanie Anaya, 47, of Alamogordo will participate in the 15-mile march. Anaya has been training since December, and has never participated in an event this long.
"I talked to a lot of veterans who told me this will a life experience," said Anaya, who works at the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce. "Hearing what they had to say about Bataan inspired me."
Late online registration for the march continues until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday at www.bataanmarch.com. Entry fees are $130 for individuals and $550 for a five-person team. Registrations will not be accepted after Wednesday's deadline.
"We have to be able to prepare and provide adequately," Monte Marlin, WSMR spokeswoman, said.
Event organizers initially predicted a crowd of 5,800 would participate in this year's march. In recent years, the number of marchers has typically increased by 400.
But now, it appears that extra 400 marchers could double for Sunday's 26.2- and 15-mile marches.
"It's higher again, but it's good, very good," said Sue Staub, Bataan march director.
The event is conducted to honor the heroic American service members who defended the Philippine Islands during World War II, sacrificing their freedom, health and, in many cases, their lives. Many of those service members were with the New Mexico National Guard.
"People appreciate the meaning of the event," Marlin said. "This event has a life of its own, a spirit of its own."
Bataan survivor
Ben Skardon, a 94-year-old survivor of the Bataan Death March, who lives in Charleston, S.C., will walk the first one-third, almost nine miles, of this year's march.
"This is the fourth year he has marched," said Las Crucen Gerry Schurtz, whose father died on a Japanese "Hell Ship."
Staub said soldiers on deployment in Afghanistan have emailed her with plans to conduct their own march, mirroring WSMR's event.
"They asked if they could have the T-shirt, the certificate, and the dog tag that goes to every participant in the march," Staub said. "I wrote back and told them we could make arrangements for that. It's a tremendous idea on their part."
Marchers will come from all 50 states. In addition to soldiers in Afghanistan, the event at WSMR will also include participants from Canada, Denmark, France, the Philippines and Germany.
Arrive early
With more than 6,000 marchers, volunteers and spectators who will attend the event, Marlin said WSMR's population will easily double on Sunday. Because of the large crowd, Marlin and other WSMR officials are urging participants to arrive early, and to be patient as they enter WSMR's gates.
Because of security procedures, everyone entering WSMR must be prepared to show photo identification. All vehicles are subject to search, and motorists should be prepared to show vehicle registration and proof of insurance or rental car contract.
Marchers from Las Cruces, Alamogordo and El Paso are encouraged to pick up packets, completing their registration, on Friday. That procedure, called in processing, will be at the WSMR Community Center, on Flagler Street, from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Friday.
"Because of the large number of people who will be marching we highly recommend that those in Las Cruces, El Paso and Alamogordo come to in processing on Friday," Staub said. "It will be less crowded, since the majority of marchers typically complete in processing on the Saturday before the march."
In processing will also be conducted from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at the WSMR Community Center.
Food donations
Another noteworthy detail about the march is that marchers who carry 35-pound backpacks during the event are encouraged to pack those with nonperishable food items, such as canned goods, macaroni, and pasta. After the march, those items can be donated to the Roadrunner Food Bank.
According to march organizers, almost 11,000 pounds of food was donated to food banks from backpacks carried during last year's Bataan Memorial Death March.
Also, marathon runner Tony Stafford, of Boulder Colo., will attempt to break the 20-year-old world record for running a marathon while carrying a 40-pound pack. Stafford's pack will be loaded with 40-pounds of non-perishable food that will be donated to the Roadrunner Food Bank.
The current world record is 4 hours, 42 minutes, 44 seconds, and was set during the 1991 London Marathon. Stafford will try to complete the 26.2-mile course, at WSMR, in less than four hours.
To stage the event, there will be 28 water buffalos - large water containers used to distribute water for marchers at various water points along the courses; for trash and other refuse, 98 55-gallon trash containers and 19 large trash receptacles will be used; 120 cases of water cups will be used along the route; and there will be 187 portable outhouses for marchers.
"The eclectic nature of the list also includes ensuring we have ambulances ready and available as well as air evac services, cots, sandbags, tents and canopies large and small and more," Marlin said.
But because of the growing number of participants, march organizers were ordering more bananas and oranges Monday.
Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452
Bataan Memorial Death March
• What: 22nd annual Bataan Memorial Death March
• When: 7 a.m. Sunday
• Where: Frontier Club, at White Sands Missile Range
• Cost: Late online registration, at www.bataanmarch.com, continues until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. Registration fees are: $130 and $550 for five-person teams. No entries will be accepted after 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, and there will be no exceptions
• In processing: Participants can pick up packets and complete registration from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at the WSMR Community Center (Building 460), on Flagler Street.
• Two courses: Participants can choose from two routes. The "green" route is the full 26.2-mile course, and the "blue" route is approximately 15 miles long. Each is clearly marked with colors and signs to direct marchers
• Categories: Military men's heavy and light, military women's heavy and light; civilian men's heavy and light, civilian women's heavy and light, National Guard heavy and light, co-ed military and civilian heavy and light, ROTC heavy and light, Junior ROTC light
• Age groups: 19-year-olds and younger; 20 to 29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69; 70-older
• Participants: More than 5,400 marchers are expected
• Why: The event is conducted to honor the heroic American service members who defended the Philippine Islands during World War II, sacrificing their freedom, health and, in many cases, their lives.
• Next year: The event is tentatively scheduled for March 25, 2012
• Information: WSMR Public Affairs Office, (575) 678-1134, or by email to: bataan@conus.army.mil
Schedule of events
Friday
• Bataan in-processing at the WSMR Community Center (Building 460), 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. All participants in the 22nd annual Bataan Memorial Death March can pick up their packets.
Saturday
• Marchers breakfast special at the WSMR Bowling Center (Building 284), 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. $6.25 per person.
• Breakfast buffet at the Frontier Club (Building 1330), 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Buffet includes eggs, bacon, sausage links, potatoes O'Brien, biscuits and gravy, French toast, juice and coffee for $8.50 per person.
• Bataan in-processing at the WSMR Community Center, 9 a.m. until 10 p.m.
• Marchers lunch special at the Bowling Center, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• A la carte lunch at the Frontier Club, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Choose from a variety of made-to-order grilled sandwiches.
• New Mexico descendants group meeting at the Post Theater (Building 254), noon to 12:40 p.m.
• American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Descendants Group, National Organization Meeting at the Post Theater, 12:45 p.m. until 1:25 p.m.
• Bataan Historical Seminar at the Post Theater, 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. The seminar is conducted by New Mexico State University and covers the deployment of the New Mexico National Guard to the Philippines, the battle for the Philippines and the fall of Bataan. The seminar also provides historical information on the Bataan Death March and the prisoner of war camps and the repatriation of POWs back to America. There is no charge.
• Meet the Bataan POWs at the Professional Development Center, 3:30 p.m. until 5 p.m.
• Pasta buffet dinner at the Frontier Club, 4:30 to 8 p.m. This all-you-can-eat pasta buffet dinner is open to all marchers, guests and event personnel. Cost is $11 per person and includes assorted pasta and sauces, salad bar, breadsticks, brownies, coffee, tea and fountain drinks.
• Movie: "The Great Raid" at the Post Theater. Free showing at 7 p.m. "The Great Raid" tells the true story of the Sixth Ranger Battalion, under the command of Lt. Col. Henry Mucci (portrayed by Benjamin Bratt), which undertakes a daring rescue mission against all odds. Traveling 30 miles behind enemy lines, the 6th Rangers aim to liberate more than 500 American prisoners of war from the notorious Cabanatuan Japanese POW camp. The movie is based on two books, "The Great Raid on Cabanatuan," by acclaimed military historian William B. Breuer and "Ghost Soldiers," by Hampton Sides. This 2005 Miramax release is directed by John Dahl, the film also stars James Franco ("Spider Man"), Joseph Fiennes ("Shakespeare in Love"), Mark Consuelos and Connie Nielson ("Gladiator"). This film is rated R.
Sunday
• Continental breakfast at the Frontier Club, 4:30 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. Provided free for all marchers. Note: The Frontier Club will not be open to the public until 7:30 a.m.
• Marchers report to the start area, Frontier Club, 6 a.m. Marchers are encouraged to arrive at WSMR no later than 4:30 a.m. Marchers not present for opening ceremonies or arrive late to the starting line will not be allowed on the course.
• "Their Past, Their Glory, Our Thanks" opening ceremony, Frontier Club, 6:35 a.m. During the ceremony, those who died at Bataan are remembered and the brave survivors are honored through Reveille, invocation, remarks and a very moving roll call.
• March starts, Frontier Club, 7:05 a.m. Marchers will begin in the following order: Wounded Warriors, Military and Team Heavy, National Guard and ROTC Team Heavy, Military Coed Heavy; Military Individual Light, Military and ROTC Team Light, National Guard Team Light, JROTC Light, Military Coed Team Light; Civilian Team Heavy, Civilian Team Light, Civilian Individual Heavy, Civilian Individual Light; Honorary marchers.
• Bataan meal at the Frontier Club, 10:30 a.m. Marchers lunch meal is included in their registration fee. Additional a la carte items are available for purchase for spectators. In the event of high winds, meals will be served inside the Frontier Club.
• Survivor's recognition ceremony at the Frontier Club, 3 p.m. The ceremony honors the 22nd annual Bataan Memorial Death March participants and Bataan veterans. Posting of unofficial results will be at the end of the finish line.
• Post march dinner at the Frontier Club, 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. A post-march dinner buffet will be available to all marchers, guests, and event personnel for $10 per person.
