The Bataan Memorial Death March is an event I'll never forget. I drove down the day before knowing I had to get on base before sunrise when the march would begin. I really wasn't sure what to expect from this assignment and as the sun rose on the crowd of people that assembled to begin the march it took my breath away. This was the 22nd annual memorial march to honor the Bataan Death March survivors and the memory of those didn't survive. New Mexico has a good number of Bataan Death March survivors. I loved watching and photographing the survivors that showed up to cheer on the march participants. I don't know how many hands they shook that day, but pretty much everyone who crossed that finish line stopped to thank them for their service and bravery.

Walkers and runners begin the 22nd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, Sunday, March 27, 2011. (Morgan Petroski/Albuquerque Journal)

Bataan survivor Oscar Leonard, 91, from Paradise, CA, sends off the walkers at the start of the 22nd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, Sunday, March 27, 2011. (Morgan Petroski/Albuquerque Journal)

Kein Bolke and his son, Max Bolke, 9, of White Sands, begin their 15.2-mile walk during the 22nd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, Sunday, March 27, 2011. This was Max's first Bataan walk and he later said it was good and that he would do it again next year. (Morgan Petroski/Albuquerque Journal)

Bataan survivor Sam Juan Antonio, sends off the walkers with the phrase "No Blisters" during the 22nd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, Sunday, March 27, 2011. (Morgan Petroski/Albuquerque Journal)

Walkers hike through the White Sands Missile Range during the 22nd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March, Sunday, March 27, 2011. (Morgan Petroski/Albuquerque Journal)

Volunteer Vicki Anderson, from Las Cruces, holds out water for the walkers and runners during the 22nd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, Sunday, March 27, 2011. (Morgan Petroski/Albuquerque Journal)

Walkers and runners kick up some dust along with the strong winds that seemed to last all day during the 22nd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, Sunday, March 27, 2011. (Morgan Petroski/Albuquerque Journal)

Walk participants hydrate at water point 3 during the 22nd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, Sunday, March 27, 2011. (Morgan Petroski/Albuquerque Journal)

Walkers and runner emerge from the dusty desert of White Sands Missile Range during the 22nd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March, Sunday, March 27, 2011. (Morgan Petroski/Albuquerque Journal)

Vietnam veteran Bruce Fonnest, at right, holds up the Engineer flag as walkers and runners pass by at water station 3 during the 22nd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, Sunday, March 27, 2011. (Morgan Petroski/Albuquerque Journal)

Angus Smith plays the bagpipes while marching in the 22nd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, Sunday, March 27, 2011. (Morgan Petroski/Albuquerque Journal)

A runner comes down the home stretch of his 15.2-mile run during the 22nd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, Sunday, March 27, 2011. (Morgan Petroski/Albuquerque Journal)

Runners pass by tall yuccas during the 22nd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, Sunday, March 27, 2011. (Morgan Petroski/Albuquerque Journal)

A team prepares to cross the finish line of their 26.2-mile run arm in arm during the 22nd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, Sunday, March 27, 2011. (Morgan Petroski/Albuquerque Journal)

Bataan survivors Harold Bergbower, 90, from Peoria, AZ, at right, and William Eldridge, 88, from Citrus Heights, CA, greet runners at water point 7 during the 22nd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, Sunday, March 27, 2011. (Morgan Petroski/Albuquerque Journal)