​Once again our team of Purple Hearts and support staff successfully completed 100% of the 26.2 miles of the Bataan Memorial Death March! Held through the high terrain at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico every year, this course presents quite a challenge, trudging through deep sand, with an elevation starting at 4300 feet with an additional gain of 1650 feet.  All of this is done along with 8300 of your closest friends.

​So many participants along the way march for various reasons in addition to honoring those who lost their lives or survived the actual WWII Bataan Death March, and one of our very own Warrior Bonfire Purple Heart members was one of those who achieved a great personal goal  here at the memorial

march. Ned Mitchell in 2007 in Baghdad, Iraq sustained injuries from an IED blast that took the lower portion of his left arm and inflicted extreme nerve damage to his lower legs and feet resulting in little to no feeling. He was told he would likely never walk again ten years ago. Yet here he is completing the Bataan Memorial March! A great example of drive and perseverance, never quit attitude, always carrying a smile with some jokes, and not taking for granted one bit of the sacrifice of our fallen brothers and the freedoms they secured for us as a nation of American citizens.

​​

​“An awesome group of men, I’m not often moved by people but these guys left me completely humbled and amazed.” G. Phillips, WBP volunteer support staff marcher.

In addition to Mitchell’s’ story and the normal difficulties such as, aches, pains, exhaustion, and blisters that come with a marathon march our team seemed to want to make it tougher by contracting the flu, walking pneumonia and a possible torn meniscus! Why not go all in?! However, each and every one of these marchers will tell you that pains, illnesses and all do not even come close to what those men endured in the real Bataan Death March – the 66 mile march to Camp O’Donnell in the Philippines during WWII when Imperial Japan forces captured 76,000 American and Filipino POW’s which began on April 9, 1942. The memorial march is conducted in honor of the heroic service members who defended the Philippine Islands during World War II, sacrificing their freedom, health, and, in many cases, their very lives.

​“Why I did the march?…I have a love for life, love and freedoms, which is why I went into battle again and again, but I marched mostly to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and stood for the same beliefs I have.” M. Bessler, Purple Heart & Marcher

This Bonfire event creates a team environment unlike most of our retreat events, it presents very different emotions, challenges and successes. Every year it leaves those Veterans in attendance with the familiar yet sometimes forgotten, feeling of being connected to something that is greater than themselves, the collective population of those that have worn the uniform throughout our American history of war and conflict. It gives them a look at just how far we have come as a nation and that they played a part in securing and continuing our history even though their injuries changed their course unexpectedly.

Here’s to continued growth and leadership from our Veterans!
Make sure to click here to check out our photos from this Bonfire event!