Brainerd VFW
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Annual Remembrance Ceremony of Bataan
at the Brainerd 194th National Guard Armory
Also see the Bataan Memorial March in September

The 2023 Bataan Remembrance event in Brainerd is held every April at the Brainerd National Guard Armory, 1115 Wright Street, in South Brainerd.
April 6, 2023:  The Brainerd Honor Guard was a part of the Bataan Remembrance. Speakers included Major Michael Popp and Colonel Joshua Guyse who told the story of Japanese atrocities against the Philippine people and prisoners of war. Of the 64 American officers and men in the 194th Tank Battalion, only 32 survived to return home after World War II.  "Never forget" was a phrase frequently heard that day. 

Names of the 64 were read and dog tags were put on the board, one at a time, in their honor.  Prayers were said for all. Traditional Philippine food was served to the crowd by the FIL-AM Bayanihan Group.
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April 9, 2022:  The 80th anniversary of the fall of Bataan in the Philippines, April 9, 1942, at the beginning of World War Two.  It was February 1941 when Brainerd's 34th Tank Company was federalized and sent to the Philippines to help protect the country.  Japanese attacked on December 8, 1941.  Americans and Philippine troops fought bravely and successfully until they ran out of ammunition, food and medical supplies.  Surrender seemed the best course of action to save lives.  Then the Japanese forced the captured to walk 60 miles to a prison camp without food or water in the tragedy known as the Bataan Death March.  Of the 64 soldiers who left Brainerd, three were killed in action and 29 died as prisoners of war in this war crime. Only 32 survived to return home.

Speakers in Brainerd on April 9, 2022, included Santiago "Sonny" Busa, who was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the US with his father, a US Navy Chief Petty Officer.  He is a retired diplomat with over forty years of government service as an Army officer and Foreign Service officer with the US Department of State.  Also speaking was Major General Lang (retired). It was stated that descendants should be proud of their heritage.  Congressional Gold Medals were given to the families of Julius Knutsen and Herbert Strobel.  Both are presumed dead in Bataan.  Dog tags with the names of the 64 were hung on a display.   

Other speakers included Chaplain Todd Wooden, LTC John Hobot, and Champlain Carroll Janzen.  There was a three-volley gun salute by the Brainerd Honor Guard along with Taps.
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Brainerd VFW
​309 South 6th Street

Brainerd, MN  56401
​218-829-6393
Mon-Sat: Noon to 10 pm
Sunday: Noon to 5 pm
& during Vikings Football  
3rd Sun. breakfast 8 to noon
1st Place MN VFW Website 2020, 2021 & 2022
Terms of Use     © on the web since 2015
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  • Home
  • About
    • Food >
      • Monday
      • Tuesday
      • Wednesday
      • Thursday
      • Sunday
    • Post 1647
    • Facility
    • Bingo
    • Sports >
      • Baseball
      • Hockey
      • Mens Softball
      • Womens Softball
    • Youth >
      • Voice of Democracy
      • Patriot's Pen
      • Essay
      • Scouting
      • Coloring
      • Card Making
    • People
    • Press
    • Awards
    • Radio Ads
    • Media Room
  • More
    • Calendar
    • Blood Drives
    • Pop Can Tabs
    • All Vets Memorial
    • Flags
    • Patriotic Photos
    • Thoughts
    • Apparel
    • Kitty Hawk
    • Web Writing
    • Lest We Forget
  • Events
    • January - April >
      • New Years
      • Midwinter Conference
      • Pistol Shoot
      • Superbowl
      • Polar Plunge
      • St. Patricks Day
      • Vietnam Vets Day
      • Vets on the Hill
      • Downtown Golf
      • Bataan
      • Turkey Hunt
      • Trap Shoot
    • May - August >
      • Thrift Sale
      • Buddy Poppies
      • Memorial Day Prep
      • MemorialDay
      • Taps
      • State Convention
      • Flag Day
      • Freedom Festival
      • Independence Day
      • Veteran Tribute Day
      • County Fair
      • Bean Bag Tournament
      • Picnic
    • September - December >
      • Bataan March
      • POW MIA
      • Football
      • Membership Dinner
      • Fall Conference
      • Veterans Week
      • Veterans Day
      • Thanksgiving
      • Decorating
      • Santa
      • Christmas
  • Membership
    • Post Officers
    • Post Membership
    • Auxiliary Officers
    • Auxiliary Membership
    • Women Veterans
    • Honor Guard
    • Chaplain
    • Our Post
  • Newsletter
  • News Stories
    • 2023 Stories
    • 2022 Stories
    • 2021 Stories
    • 2020 Stories
    • 2019 Stories
    • 2018 Stories
    • 2017 Stories
    • 2016 Stories
    • History
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