PHOTOS: 2018 Bataan Memorial Death March (2024)

The sun rises on the nearly 8,500 participants who marched Sunday March 25, 2018, in the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range.

The 29th Bataan Memorial Death March participants salute the presentation of the colors during the opening ceremonies Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range. Nearly 8,500 marchers took to the desert to honor the original march 76 years ago.

Jeff Oerding of Oregon, dressed in a WWII-period uniform, attends the opening ceremonies of the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

New Mexico State University ROTC member Ryan McCarty displays the Bataan Battling Bastards flag during opening ceremonies for the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March held Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Crystal "Mai" Purdy form Portland, Oregon, surveys the parade grounds as she prepares to march in her third Bataan Memorial Death March with Operation Enduring Warrior Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Zoe, owned by U.S. Army E6 Jonathan Lopez (not pictured), stands guard at the opening ceremonies of the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March on Sunday March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Kristof Vitok of Roswell carries the American flag in high winds during the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March held Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Participants in the 2018 Bataan Memorial Death March make their way toward the US 70 overpass Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Shadows get long as this lone marcher passes the 8-mile mark in the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

The Organ Mountains serve as a backdrop Sunday March 25, 2018, as participants of the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March pass by at White Sands Missile Range.

Marchers push forward in the 29th annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range on Sunday, March 25, 2018.

Nearly 8,500 participants begin to march Sunday March 25, 2018, during the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range.

Stephan Plambeck from El Paso, is joined by his son Fredrick, 7, for the sprint to the finish line of the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March held Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Aaron Bartal, of Lincoln Park, Michigan, sprints to the finish line of the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March held Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Liz Poe, from Albuquerque, checks the weight of her rucksack before the start of the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March held Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Jessica Knopf of Cibolo, Texas, pulls on her American flag socks at Water Point 3 during the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March held Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Thomas Carney, stationed at Cannon AFB, works on some "hot spots" on his feet at Water Point 3 of the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March on Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Christine Russ of Denver, reacts to dowsing herself with water at the eight-mile water point during the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March held Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Marchers take a break at Water Point 7, just past the 16-mile point of the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March held Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Marching in honor of his grandfather, Glenn Rivera of Oceanside, California, shows the sign he has taped to his backpack early Sunday, March 25, 2018, at the Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range.

Rowena San of Houston, Texas, shows her sign for the Bataan Memorial Death March before she starts marching Sunday morning on March 25, 2018.

Glenn Rivera (left) and Rowena San (right) talk about how they met at the Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missle Range on March 25, 2018.

1st Sgt. Jorg Lian from Norway prepares his rucksack for the Bataan Memorial Death March early Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Retired Army Col. Gerald Schultz, of Deming, directs marchers during the start of the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March held Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Ret. Col. Ben Skardon, 100, jokes with a participant of the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March after opening ceremonies Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Bataan Survivor Ben Skardon, 100, greets marchers at the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Ben Skardon, 100, a Bataan survivor, talks and laughs with those around him on Sunday March 25, 2018, during the Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range.

Bataan Death March survivor Ben Skardon, 100, greets marchers at the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Bataan Death March survivor Ben Skardon, 100, greets marchers at the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Ret. Col. Ben Skardon, 100, begins his eight-mile walk at the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March. Col. Skardon was a POW in the Bataan Death March in World War II.

Bataan Death march survivor Paul Ketchum tells jokes and greets marchers as the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March begins early Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Bataan Death March survivor Paul Ketchum, B Company 31st Infantry, has a laugh before the opening ceremonies of the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March held Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Bill Overmier, a 98-year-old Bataan Death March survivor, gestures to a marcher at the starting line of the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March held Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range.

Joseph Cormie of upstate New York participates in the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range on Sunday, March 25, 2018.

Mason Abrahams, left, Anthony Meyer, center, and Mark Meyer participate in the Bataan Memorial Death March early Sunday, March 25, 2018, at the White Sands Missile Range.

Union High School (Tulsa, Oklahoma) sophom*ores Zach Martin, right, and Giovanni Benitez carry their rucksacks before participating in the 29th annual Bataan Memorial Death March on Sunday, March 25, 2018.

Dave Meyrick, of Las Vegas, Nevada, participates in the 29th annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range on Sunday, March 25, 2018.

US Army Col. Dave Brown gives the opening speech to the Bataan Memorial Death March participants early Sunday, March 25, 2018, at the White Sands Missile Range.

Marchers stand for the national anthem at the opening of the 29th annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range at sunrise Sunday, March 25, 2018.

The colors are presented at the opening of the 29th annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range at sunrise Sunday, March 25, 2018.

Soldiers stand during the opening ceremony of the 29th annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range at sunrise Sunday, March 25, 2018.

The colors are presented at the opening of the 29th annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range at sunrise Sunday, March 25, 2018.

Harold Bergbower, a survivor of the Bataan Death March, stands and salutes the flag during the opening ceremony of the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, on Sunday March 25, 2018.

A marcher for Warfighter Sports heads towards the US 70 underpass during the Bataan Memorial Death March held Sunday, March 25, 2018, at White Sands Missile Range. Organizations such as Warfighter Sports help disabled athletes participate in community sports.

A member of the Wounded Vets team gets ready to participate in the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range on Sunday, March 25, 2018.

Retired Army E6 Alex Delrilo gets ready to participate in the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range on Sunday, March 25, 2018.

Members of the Wounded Vets team get ready to begin the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range Sunday, March 25, 2018.

A Bataan Memorial Death March participant carries the American flag during the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range on March 25.

A participant stretches before the beginning of the Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range on Sunday, March 25, 2018.

Marchers line up to start the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range early Sunday, March 25, 2018.

Marchers pass the first water station on the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March trail at White Sands Missile Range early Sunday, March 25, 2018.

A participant takes a break at a water station at the Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range on Sunday, March 25, 2018.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Earl Granville looks on during the opening ceremony of the Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range on Sunday, March 25, 2018.

1st Sgt. Edward Maschek shows off his Boy scout troop shirt and kilt as he marches in the Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missle Range Sunday Morning March 25, 2018.

A runner cools himself during the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range Sunday, March 25, 2018.

Participants share snacks while participating in the 29th Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range on Sunday, March 25, 2018.

Marchers push forward in the 29th annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range on Sunday, March 25, 2018.

Marchers fill the streets at White Sands Missile Range on Sunday March 25, 2018, during the Bataan Memorial Death March.