Bataan Remembrance Day will be commemorated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, at Bataan Park in East Bremerton. The park is located on Sylvan Way and Olympus Drive.

The Kitsap Filipino-American Association presents this event as a historical educational reminder of April 9, 1942 when Major General Edward P. King was forced to surrender the Filipino-American Forces on Bataan to General Masabaro Homma of the Japanese Imperial Army.

The Death March took the lives of hundreds of American soldiers and thousands of Filipino soldiers. Thousands of captured Americans died in the prisoner of war camps, hell ships and slave labor camps in Japan and other places in the Far East.

The keynote speaker is Bremerton City Councilperson Leslie Daugs. Her grandfather was a Filipino soldier on the Death March. She will talk about what happened to him and her family history relating to the war in the Philippines.

The master of ceremonies will be Lida Villaviray Howard. Mayor Patty Lent will recognize Marietta Barrios and her family’s contribution of the land that became Bataan Park. The Bangor Marine Color Guard with Sgt. Robert Kotsur will present the colors.

The Suquamish Warriors, led by Kieth Specht, will fire the 21 Gun Salute. Raul Bacas,Presidnt of the Fil-AM Association will have his FilHarmony singing group and the Farragut Brass Band will play the National Anthem and other favorites.

Kristan Sollano and his team of volunteers from South Kitsap High School will be helping with chairs and other duties. Father Henry Hernando will give the invocation.

All are welcome to this unique locally inspired event.