Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46By YM/Cpl Cody Jackson Manassas (VA) After fighting Japanese forces for three months, the U.S. surren- dered the Bataan Peninsula on the main Philippine island of Lu- zon to the Japanese in April, 1942. Approximately 75,000 Filipino and American troops on Bataan were forced to march 65 miles in heat and through jungle to prison camps, all the while being brutally treated by their captors.They were not given food or drink and were not allowed to rest; even Filipino civilians were killed for trying to help the prisoners on that death march so many years ago. In White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, you can find thou- sands of people from all over the world coming together to ruck or run 26.2 miles through white sand and desert to memorialize those that survived and those that fell on the Bataan Death March in 1942. This year, I was honored to join 6,613 other people in the 27th Annual Bataan Memorial Death March. We gathered the day be- fore to meet survivors and to sign in and weigh packs. The next morning we gathered at 4:30 a.m. into our groups, waiting for the start of the march. Some people carried packs filled with canned food for a food drive, some planned on running the whole course. The one thing everyone shared was the memory of the suffering and sacrifice of the American and Filipino troops. We hiked up hills, through 2 miles of two foot deep sand, in the heat and wind. It was worth it just to be in the presence of so many patriots and heroes. There were veterans from recent con- flicts, veterans in their 90’s, and families of survivors and fallen, all gathered to remember. It was nothing less than an honor to be among them. I hope more Young Marines will join me next year to honor these brave survivors and their fallen brothers. For more information: www. http://bataanmarch.com An Event to Honor the Heroes of 1942 Bataan Death March By YM/LCpl Dominic Lo Piccolo Western New York (NY) This year will mark the 25th anniversary of Operation Desert Shield becoming Operation Des- ert Storm (also referred to as the Persian Gulf War). I thank all the veterans who participated in that monumental event. Last month, I had the opportunity to get some idea of some of the sacrifices they and their loved ones made. I accompa- nied my father and his childhood friends for their annual visit to honor and place a flag at the grave of their friend, USMC Lance Corporal David T. Snyder. LCPL Snyder was an Anti-Tank Guided Missile Specialist who proudly served in the 1st Light Armored Infantry Battalion of the 1st Marine Division, which was recently honored on its 75th anniversary as the oldest, largest, and most decorated division in the Corps. LCPL Snyder’s company was deployed to Saudi Arabia in August, 1990, and was assigned to the forward most Marine unit. Task Force Shepherd was charged with patrolling and defending the Saudi/ Kuwait border during Operation Des- ert Shield in advance of the impending ground assault during Operation Desert Storm. He died on the night of January 29, 1991 in a tragic friendly-fire accident while leading the repulse of an Iraqi tank offensive during the battle of Khafji. After visiting his grave, we went to his parents’ house and spoke with his mother.She showed me her scrapbook of his service, including his flag and med- als, as well as the many things people from around the world had sent her ex- pressing their condolences and thanking Dave for his service. There were letters from President George H.W.Bush and the leaders of both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. As I listened to them share their stories of Dave’s life, I sensed the sadness they all must have felt so long ago. I went home with the sense that freedom truly is not free,it is fought for,and it is earned through sacrifice. Some give everything for it, and I have the utmost respect and admiration for those individuals. Western NY: Remembering the Price of Freedom Honoring Our Veterans ESPRIT ONLINE | Page 24