The 1st Akeanon Veterans Week will be celebrated on the second week of April, interim president Henjie M. Del Castillo of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines – Sons and Daughters Association, Inc. (VFPSDAI) Kalibo Post announced.
The celebration is in honor of Akeanon World War II Veterans. On Tuesday, April 10, a Requiem Mass will be celebrated at Saint John de Baptist Cathedral, Kalibo at 8:00 o’clock in the morning. The holy mass over, a commemorative program will be held at the Kalibo Veterans Shrine, Pastrana Park, Kalibo, Aklan.
Wreath laying and floral offering will include tops and valley of fire in honor of both the deceased and living veterans.
To recall, the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) surrendered Bataan to the Japanese invaders on April 9, 1942 or 70 years ago today. Both the American and Filipino officers and men in Bataan were brought to the concentration camp in Capas, Tarlac where from Bataan to Capas, thousands of USAFFEE soldiers perished along the way during their walk dubbed, “Death March”.
Today, a shrine is erected in Mt. Samat, Bataan in honor of the officers and men who died in Bataan, in the death march, and in Capas.
April 9 of every year is declared a non working public holiday in the Philippines. /MP
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