SAN MARCOS HIGH SCHOOL
San Marcos High School’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp held the third annual Memorial Bataan March on March 22 in honor of the sacrifices made by the 75,000 American and Filipino Soldiers who were forced to march by the Japanese Army to prisoner of war camps in Luzon, Philippines. Over 10,000 soldiers died during the journey. The route was 15 miles long, starting at San Marcos High School and ending at the Maurice T. Settles VFW Post #3413 on Hunter Road. There were 124 participants, making it the largest group since its inception. Local JROTC units from Alamo Heights, Fredericksburg and Kerrville-Tivy were also in attendance. Participants “rucked” 10 to 20 pounds each of canned goods from SMHS to the VFW. This weight was to remind the Cadets of the treacherous journey taken by the soldiers.
AFJROTC collected over 450 pounds of food for the Veterans Support Activity at the VFW.
“This was an excellent opportunity for the Cadets to showcase their planning, organizational and leadership skills and pay homage to those who came before. The Cadets did everything from logistics, the marching route, to the communications plan with Land Mobile Radios. It was a great team effort. I’m so proud of what they’ve accomplished. Community Service opportunities like this are essential in developing students of character for the future,” Major Anthony Williams, Senior Aerospace Science Instructor, said.
Cadet Robert Gabrian, AFJROTC Corps Commander, discovered the gravesite of Lt. Arthur E. Gary, San Marcos native and Texas A&M Graduate, who died on Dec. 7, 1941 in Luzon, Philippines. Lt. Gary was the first San Marcos citizen to die during World War II. He was a Army Air Corps Pilot from the 30th Bomb Group and is also the namesake of Gary Job Corps located in San Marcos. Cadet Gabrian wanted to commemorate the sacrifices of those fallen Veterans and raise awareness of this local San Marcos Hero.
