LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Two staff members from the Good Samaritan Society – Las Cruces Village are preparing to take part in the upcoming Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range as a way to honor those who were involved in the World War II march, as well as many local veterans.
Laurie Tapia and Joshua Maese have their backpacks adorned with almost 50 specially made bandanas featuring the names of veterans from the Good Samaritan Society (GSS) campus, both residents and staff.
“I love representing and honoring these veterans,” Tapia said. “And I’d seen that Good Samaritan has a lot of them, and it would be a blessing to go out and honor them.”
Not only are Tapia and Maese representing GSS veterans, but they each have a connection to the Bataan Death March. Maese had a great-uncle, Antonio Gallegos, who survived the 1942 March, and Tapia had a cousin, Robert Estrada, who never returned. Each of their relatives are signified with white bandanas, while the other veterans are remembered with red and blue bandanas.
Unfortunately, Maese doesn’t know much about his great-uncle, but he sees this opportunity as a way to honor everyone who has served.
“It’s the least I can do to honor our servicewomen and men,” Maese said. “Twenty-six miles is nothing compared to what they have to do.”
While this is Maese’s first time doing the March, this is Tapia’s fourth year. She first marched in memory of her cousin.
“Now I just do it to honor all of the veterans that I can,” Tapia said.
The Bataan Death March has a lot of significance for the state of New Mexico, as soldiers from the 200th/515th Coast Artillery of the National Guard were largely made up of New Mexicans. The Bataan Memorial Death March is held at White Sands Missile Range each year in March, and has been ongoing since 1989.
The course is marathon length (26.2 miles), as well as an optional 15 mile course, both over mountainous high desert terrain. For more information, please visit bataanmarch.com.