Amended in Senate May 27, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 127

Introduced by Assembly Member Bonta

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(Coauthors: Senators De León, Lieu, and Liu)

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April 1, 2014

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 127—Relative to Bataan Death March Veterans Commemoration Day.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 127, as amended, Bonta. Bataan Death March Veterans Commemoration Day.

This measure would declare April 9, 2014, and every April 9 thereafter, as Bataan Death March Veterans Commemoration Day.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, On April 9, 1942, during World War II, the
Japanese Army forced 78,000 Filipino and American soldiers to
march 82 miles from Bataan to Camp O’Donnell; and

WHEREAS, These soldiers endured brutal conditions and
suffered heinous war crimes along the march; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 10,000 soldiers, both Filipino and
American, lost their lives during the march; and

WHEREAS, The Bataan Death March was the greatest loss of
American and Filipino prisoners of war during World War II; and

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WHEREAS, Many survivors were forced to labor in prison
camps in the Philippines and Japan while prisoners of war; and

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WHEREAS, Californians owe a debt of gratitude to the soldiers
who gave up their freedom and perished in service of their countries
to preserve our freedoms and our lives; and

WHEREAS, Knowledge of this historic event is passing out of
living memory as survivors pass away; and

WHEREAS, The sacrifices made by American and Filipino
veterans during the Bataan Death March have received little state
recognition in California; and

WHEREAS, The United States Federal Government annually
recognizes April begin delete 9th end delete begin insert 9 end insert as National Former Prisoner of War Day;
now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature declares that a day be set
aside for appreciation of the veterans of the Bataan Death March
and a memoriam of the deceased; and be it further

Resolved, That April 9, 2014, and each begin delete 9th end delete begin insert ninth end insert day of April
hereafter, is hereby designated and commemorated as Bataan Death
March Veterans Commemoration Day; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.