Hays Post
Curiosity was piqued Friday as travelers on Old U.S. 40 reported a trio of camouflaged men walking down the side of the locals' favorite east-west highway.
And after the rumor mill was quick to drum up almost fantastic tales of their origins and mission, their true purpose might seem mundane.
But, it was certainly important.
The men were participating in the annual Bataan Memorial Death March, an event first sponsored by the Army ROTC Department at New Mexico State University in March of 1989.
"The memorial march was to mark a page in history that included many native sons and affected many families in the state," according to the event website.
The event has only been canceled twice in its history, for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, according to the organization.
It was the latter that also led to the three men walking down Old 40. As COVID concerns again grew, this year's event was turned into a virtual one.
And so the three soldiers from the 391st Medical Logistics Company, an Army Reserve unit from Hays, walked the marathon-length event, 26 miles, on Old 40.
Starting at 8 a.m., they headed east from Hays, to a point a mile or so past Walker, before turning back.
During the march Friday, a brisk breeze was in the air, almost the opposite of what the marchers would have experienced at the typical location through the high desert terrain of the White Sands Missle Range.
But either way, the purpose would remain.
"The memorial march is conducted in honor of the heroic service member who defended the Philippine Islands during World War II, sacrificing their freedom, health, and, in many cases, their very lives," according to the organization.
And in person or spread around the U.S., the event also continues on the mission of those that have marched before.
"Since its inception, the Bataan Memorial Death March’s participation has grown from about 100 to about 9,600 marchers," according to the organization. "These marchers come from across the United States and several foreign countries. While still primarily a military event, many civilians choose to participate in the challenging march."
"Marchers participate in the Bataan Memorial Death March for many reasons: personal challenge, the spirit of competition, or to foster esprit de corps in their unit. Some march in honor of a family member or a particular veteran who was in the Bataan Death March or who was taken as a prisoner of war by the Japanese in the Philippines."
For more information about the Bataan Memorial Death March, visit bataanmarch.com.