Do not forget those who served

Published 9:44 am Tuesday, May 13, 2014

In mid-April this year, the annual Bataan Remembrance Day Ceremony was held at Bataan Park at Sylvan Way and Olympus Drive in Bremerton. This event is to remember those weary Filipino and American servicemen who endured a brutal 70-mile “death march” after the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in 1942. This was followed by more unspeakable brutality, starvation, and death in the concentration camp they were sent to.

Mayor Patty Lent and several City Council members were in attendance. Mayor Lent has participated in this event every year during her two terms. She is a faithful supporter of our military community. Councilwoman Leslie Daugs gave a wonderful and moving speech about this dark time in history. Her grandfather was a participant in the death march and a victim of the Japanese brutality. He did not survive.

There was a small announcement in a local paper the day before the event but no coverage afterward. I wish coverage of the Remembrance was given for the sake of those who died serving their country overseas.

William Rieger
Bremerton