To honor the sacrifices and commitments of past soldiers and to gain a chance to earn the newly added Bataan Death March ribbon, the JROTC cadets have volunteered to participate in the Bataan Memorial Death March 14-mile march April 22.

According to vintonmessenger.com, The Bataan Death March was a harsh and brutal 85 mile march that American and Filipino soldiers were forced to hike by the Japanese Army during World War II. They were tortured and abused. About 10,000 or more of the 60,000 soldiers died during the march.

“I am very excited,” cadet Colonel Ashley Henagin said. “I think it’s a great way to honor the men who went through the actual experience.”

The cadets will complete a 10-mile hike, five–miles in and five–miles back. They will start at the Audie Murphy Trailhead in Downtown Farmersville, hike Northeast Texas trail to Bland High School in Merit, Texas, and back.

“We will be practicing Thursday and Friday before the march by doing two miles each day, this will get four of the 14 – miles out of the way so the cadets will only have to do 10,” Col Brooks McFarland said.

The cadets will leave the school at 6 a.m. and will return around 1:00.