In Las Cruces, New Mexico stands a memorial to those from the state that suffered as part of the Bataan Death March. In the center stands a statue of three men. The centerman is being helped along by the two on his sides. The man on his left looks ahead wearily towards what is to come. The man on his right looks back at what they’ve gone through. He looks down to the present. In both directions, bootprints are cast into the cement, but there are more behind them than ahead. This is done to signify that as the march wore on, their numbers dwindled due to the deaths. Among the boot, prints are 38 sets of bare footprints. These barefoot impressions are of 38 actual survivors. This is a small part of a larger Memorial Park for veterans of all wars.
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While it is fairly new in construction, it memorializes April 1942. When American and Filipino soldiers defending the Philippines were ordered to surrender, the Japanese rounded up approximately 70,000 prisoners. This started the seven-day, 65-mile mile forced march now known as the Bataan Death March. In early to mid-1942, America had only recently entered the war. Patriotism and a sense of duty were high. Men from over 300 communities in New Mexico alone, fought in defense of the Philippines. At the time of surrender, New Mexico had the highest per capita Japanese POW population in the nation.
True American patriotism is honored in this memorial. It is a fitting tribute to the many veterans of not only war or World War II, but to Bataan specifically. That these men so willingly volunteered to go to war shows a culture devoted to fighting for what is right. War memorials, whether they be local, state, or national, commemorate the sacrifices borne by our nation’s defenders.
The memorial was dedicated on April 13th, 2002. The 60th anniversary of the march. Much like when the event happened and when the memorial was dedicated, the country was reeling from a devastating attack a few months prior. Suddenly, our differences didn’t seem so overwhelming. We were again united in a cause of freedom and patriotism. Fighting against a common enemy for our common good. We focused on what united us instead of what divided us. Not seeing political parties, left or right, but seeing fellow Americans. Memorials such as this reminded us of the defenders of our way of life. As the oft-repeated quote says, “The Nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten”.
Read more about the Las Cruces Veteran Memorial Park here.
While you’re in town embrace the area’s history and culture here.