For the fifth year in a row, service members, both active and reserve, veterans, and family members came together in Dismal Swamp, April 23, to commemorate those who survived and died during the 65-mile march of surrendered American and Filipino troops to prison camps, which took place on the Bataan Peninsula on the main Philippine island of Luzon during World War II in April, 1942.

According to the Chesapeake Bataan Death March Memorial Walk Facebook page, the purpose of this annual event is not only to honor the survivors of those who died in Bataan but rather all World War II veterans and their families.

The goal of the walk is to educate today's generation on the sacrifices of those troops who endured that tragedy while fighting for the freedoms we enjoy today.

"We celebrate those that were lost, and those that returned to share with the world their experiences," said Capt. John "J.C." Carter, the commanding officer of amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), currently home ported in Norfolk. "Most of all we learn. We learn that things can always be worse. Our day-to-day routine will never be as bad as any of these heroes had it. We thank them for their sacrifices."

The event consisted of three walks including 16.6 miles, 5 miles and 1 mile. Command Master Chief Scott Harville, currently assigned to Bataan, participated in the 5-mile walk this year with his family and shared that he believes it is important to keep in mind that we can never fully realize the pain our troops experienced during the death march.

"This is my second year at this event," said Harville. "Having a mental remembrance of what our Bataan death march survivors, and what everyone else had gone through; it was a humbling experience to just do this walk."

Andy Mikita, a native of Santa Cruz, California, is the son of Tom Mikita Jr. who was a survivor of the death march.

"I did the one mile walk today," said Mikita. "I did this walk to honor my father who was a prisoner of war of the Japanese during World War II."

A volunteer for the event, Matthew Schweers, a resident of Chesapeake and member of the SSG Jonathan Kilian Dozier memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2894, said the walk is not only a time for young people and children to spend time with the veterans but it is also a fundraiser to help the families of veterans and survivors of the Bataan death march.

The funds raised the previous year were used to help four veteran families in need and Schweers said that is what this event and the VFW are also about.

"I have been volunteering at this event for the past five years and Bataan has been a great help to us," said Schweers. "We are more than just a group of guys sitting in a bar telling war stories; we are about outreach and helping veterans and their families when they have a need."

The walks culminated with a ceremony where guest speakers included City Council member S.Z. "Debbie" Ritter, John "J.C." Carter of Bataan and death march survivor and POW honoree Dan Crowley.

Crowley survived a 42-month imprisonment by the Japanese and was involved with a number of marches and prison camps.

"Everyday was a day of terror," said Crowley. "I recall personally being beaten to the ground when my number was called and I didn't move fast enough."

Crowley went on to share what the process of being liberated at the end of World War II was like and encouraged everyone listening that they have a duty to read whatever they can about World War II and our country's history and to educate others, especially our children and young people, so that we will never be in danger of losing our freedoms that many have died protecting.

For more news from USS Bataan (LHD 5), visit http://www.navy.mil/.