The Filipino-American Association of Kitsap County President Pablo Lozano has again honored the Filipinos and Americans who fought the Imperial Japanese Army on Bataan. Mr. Lozano spoke of the battle for Bataan from the end of December 1941 that ended April 9, 1942. 76,000 American and Filipino soldiers with little food and ammunition, suffering from dysentery and malaria. 600 Americans and 6,000 Filipinos died from exhaustion or were murdered by the Japanese on the Death March.

I spoke about the “Prisoners Of The Far East In World War International Memorial.” As the Foundation president I emphasized the desirability of having the Memorial open by the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. Memorial Foundation Officer Jonathon O’Brien Smith emphatically said Building 50 (Naval Museum featuring ship maintenance) should have the third floor as the ideal place for the Pacific POW Museum.

Memorial Foundation Board Officer Mary Dombrowski talked about the necessity of having historical events represented accurately. She said special ideologies take it upon themselves to use pressure to revise history. The POW history has never been accurately reported in Japan. Indifference could allow their biased view to take hold here. That history must be perpetualized now or it will be revised and forgotten.

Former World War II Sgt. Wayne Matz played taps. He treated the group to an impromptu playing of retreat as he was leaving.

ROBERT MEDLEY

Bremerton