Address: BHS Museum of History
No. 06, Rizal Ave. (MacArthur Hi-way),
Brgy. Lourdes, Bamban, Tarlac C2317 Philippines
Email: rhonie_bmbn@yahoo.com, rhonie_bamban1945@yahoo.com, rhonie.bmbn@gmail.com
Cell No. 0063-908-915-0686, 0063-922-280-1271
Last Updated: June 21, 2009

Friday, August 1, 2008

US MEMORIAL DAY 2008















American Cemetery
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Manila
29-May-2008

Americans celebrate their annual Memorial Day on May 30 in commemoration for its citizens who served in the military particularly WWII, Korean, Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Hope - Afghanistan. The mother organization, the Bamban Historical Society, has been a constant participant to this solemn event. BHS represent those Filipinos and American soldiers who fought in the liberation of Bamban and the Battle of Bamban Hills whose units composed the 40th, 38th, 43rd, and 6th Divisions covering the period of 1945 until the end of the war in August.

In 2004, Bamban Historical Society erected the 40th Division (US Army) Liberation Memorial on the foot on Hill 500 (Grotto, Bantiti, Hoshinoyama) in commemoration of the liberation and subsequent of Battle of Bamban Hills by said unit. In July 2007, JCI Bamban Kayabe was established from the core component members of BHS. From 2005 till the last annual Memorial Day, JCI Bamban Kayabe/BHS members participated in the US Memorial celebration at the sacred grounds of the American Cemetery. Flower wreaths are being offered in remembrance of those who served by Bamban Kayabe/BHS especially for those American divisions who participated and gave their lives for liberty of the Bambanense.

Another project being undertaken by Bamban Kayabe/BHS is the TARLAC POW MEMORIAL MARKER, the site of the American prisoners of war (POW) enclosure at Tarlac where the general and other high-ranking officers from colonel to generals were separated and imprisoned covering the period May to mid-August 1942. A tarpaulin photo exhibit of the American POWs' at Tarlac taken in 1942 was presented during the memorial day. BHS will cooperate with other concerned organizations like the Filipino-American Memorial Endownment (FAME), PNP Camp Macabulos Administration, the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, and the National Historical Institute.

Among the American delegates participating in the annual Memorial Day are Ambassador Kristie Kenney, Leslie Murray (FAME/AMCHAM), Robert Sears (AAP), and Jon Skelly (USDVA), to cite a few. In the light of the Jaycee Creed upholding development for international relations like the US, we will continue to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and to those who participated in the liberation of Bamban.


Rhonie Dela Cruz

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