Bataan Memorial Park a city landmark

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The Bataan Memorial Park in Albuquerque, which was originally dedicated in 1943, is now a city landmark.

It was designated this weekend by Mayor R.J. Berry in honor of Veterans Day.

Photos: 70th Anniversary of Bataan Surrender>>

Eight hours after Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7th, 1941, Japanese troops invaded the Philippines.

Their next plan was to conquer Australia.

Instead, invaders met fierce resistance from New Mexico National Guard troops and other U.S. and Filipino forces.

A four month fight ensued, troops surrender on April 9th.

Then they were forced into the brutal Bataan Death March, between 7,000 and 10,000 died along the way.

For the next three years, they were slave laborers in work camps.

The events touched the lives of nearly every family living in New Mexico at the time.

This Veterans Day, tribute will be paid to soldiers both living and dead who so nobly served.