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Name Dedication for “New Mexico Brigade Building” on July 3

Santa Fe County is hosting a name dedication ceremony to name the Santa Fe County Public Works Building the “New Mexico Brigade Building” on Thursday, July 3, 2014 at 10 a.m. at 424 NM 599 Frontage Road. The dedication is in honor of the U.S. Prisoners of War on the Bataan Death March in the Philippines during World War II in 1942.

“This building is dedicated to the New Mexico Brigade for their sacrifices and contributions during the Bataan Death March. It honors all who have served this country, past, present and future,” said Commissioner Robert Anaya.

In recognition of the Brigade members’ bravery and service to our country, the Santa Fe County Board of Commissioners adopted a Proclamation on July 30, 2013 naming the public works building the “New Mexico Brigade Building”.

As part of the naming ceremony, a memorial at the base of the American Flag will be dedicated to the late Mr. Ojinaga, longtime Santa Fe County resident and Bataan Death March survivor.

Directions:
• From NM 599 (Santa Fe Relief Route), take the County Rd. 62 interchange.
• From eastbound/northbound 599, take the roundabout to cross over 599 and then take the next roundabout so you are heading westbound on the Frontage Rd.
• From westbound/southbound 599, take the roundabout so you are heading westbound on the Frontage Rd. Go past Caja Del Rio Rd. and look for the tall wind turbine on the right.
• Map of building here.

For more information contact Chris Barela at 986-6337or cmbarela@santafecountynm.gov.

Brief Background:

In January, 1941, New Mexico National Guard troops were activated to full-time status in preparation for the United States expected military involvement in World War II. The troops became the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery Regiment, also known as the “New Mexico Brigade”. In August 1941, the New Mexico Brigade was shipped to the Philippines to join American and Philippine soldiers to defend against an expected Japanese attack. Japanese ground troops landed in the Philippines in December 1942. On April 9, 1942, tens of thousands of American and Filipino soldiers were surrendered to Japanese forces. Among those seized were members of the 200th Coast Artillery, New Mexico National Guard. The Japanese marched the Bataan prisoners over 60 miles in intense heat toward prisoner of war camps, known as the “Bataan Death March”. Between the Death March and the brutal conditions in captivity, only half of the 1800 members of the New Mexico Brigade survived.