OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The event served as a somber reminder of the sacrifices military personnel have made for our nation’s liberty.
A reenactment of the Bataan Death March by the Marion County JROTC programs took place Friday, April 3, 2026, at the Baseline Road Trailhead in Ocala. The exercise recreated an historic World War II event which saw 78,000 defenders–66,000 Filipinos and 12,000 American prisoners of war–herded out of the Bataan Peninsula, on the Philippine Island of Luzon, and forced to walk some 65 miles from Mariveles to San Fernando. Thousands died along the way.
Col. Keith Cunningham, Air Force JROTC, North Marion High School instructor, teaches his students about the Bataan Death March, which took place from April 9 to April 17, 1942.
“It’s pretty sobering, but the reason we do this is to keep that memory alive, to make sure that we’re honoring those who fell to their captors, the Japanese Army, but also those who survived the march, almost 70 miles in the Philippines,” said Cunningham. “The kids know when we do this, it’s not a race. They carry the Philippine flag, the U.S. flag and the POW/MIA flag right up front. They stay together, they take care of each other, that’s the whole gist, but they have fun doing it too.”
The JROTC programs help to build good citizens with character, striving to produce the best human beings that they can, with a deep skill set, professionalism, and respect while honoring their country, said Jeremy Campbell, Forest High School Air Force JROTC instructor.
“It’s something that we do every year,” said Campbell. “I think it’s very important that we teach the next generation the importance of remembering the sacrifices that people made to keep our country great and free, and this is a small way that we can do it. A lot of people forget about things like the Bataan. I think that it’s important that we keep it alive.”
The Ocala Blue Star Mothers and volunteers from the Friends of the Marion Veterans Park played a critical role in the day’s event, understanding its significance.
“We’re assisting the Friends of the Marion County Veterans Park Foundation, serving hotdogs to the children who are coming through who are participating in this march today,” said Ann Parker, Ocala Blue Star Mothers president and Blue Star Mothers past national president. “I’m pretty sure they’ll be pretty hungry when they finish. The hot dogs, the condiments and the buns were all donated by American Legion Post 354. We’re very appreciative of that. Some kind people cooked them this morning, volunteers with the park, and we’re just out there serving them to the kids.”
The Blue Star Mothers will also be holding a car and bike show at Silver Springs State Park, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 12. There is $2 admission fee that the park charges, said Parker.
“We’d love for everyone to come out and participate,” said Parker. “We have room for a lot more cars.”
You can register for the car show at ocalabluestarmothers.org. The cost is $25 to register. There will also be t-shirts available for sale the day of the event for $25.