Capas Prisoners of War Memorial
Details:
On the west side of the Battling Bastards Monument.
Monument
A rectangular obelisk stone monument with a slightly tapered design at the top featuring white marble plaques affixed to its front side commemorating the area as the gravesite of the American servicemen who suffered and perished as prisoners of war during World War II. The memorial was established by the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor organization to commemorate their sacrifice.
Monument Text:
CAPAS PRISONERS OF WAR MEMORIAL
WWII GRAVESITE Of USAFEE POWS
ON THESE HALLOWED GROUNDS THOUSANDS OF USAFFE FILIPINO AND AMERICAN PRISONERS, OF WAR HELD CAPTIVES IN 1942-1943, DIED OF DISEASE, STARVATION AND NEGLECT. THEIR REMAINS WERE UNCEREMONIOUSLY DUMPED AND BURIED IN HASTILY DUG COMMON GRAVES WITHIN THIS AREA.
WRAPPED IN TATTERED BLANKETS AND SLUNG ON BAMBOO POLES, THEIR LIVING COMRADES CARRIED THEM TO THEIR GRAVES IN A "PROCESSION OF THE DEAD" FROM DAWN TO DUSK. AVAILABLE HISTORICAL RECORDS INDICATE THAT OUT OF APPROXIMATELY 54,000 PRISONERS OF WAR INCARCERATED WITHIN THE CAPAS POW CAMP. A TOTAL OF 25,000 FILIPINO AND 2,500 AMERICAN SERVICEMEN WERE BURIED IN THESE COMMON GRAVES.
IN 1946, THE UNITED STATES AND PHILIPPINE ARMED FORCES GRAVE REGISTRATION UNITS STARTED MOVING THE REMAINS OF THE BURIED DEAD TO THE UNITED STATES MILITARY CEMETERY AND THE AFP ''LIBINGAN NG MGA BAYANI'' CEMETERY IN FORT BONIFACIO, MAKATI, MANILA, METRO MANILA, WHERE THEIR MORTAL REMAINS FINALLY WERE LAID TO REST IN PEACE.
THIS MEMORIAL STANDS AS AN INDELIBLE REMINDER THAT FREEDOM AND LIBERTY CAN ONLY BE WON WHEN WE THE LIVING, ARE WILLING TO OFFER OUR LIVES AND MAKE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE FOR THE HONOR AND GLORY OF OUR COUNTRY.
