Engraved Names of Soldiers during the Death March at Capas National Shrine in Capas, Tarlac
English: Capas National Shrine[1]The Capas National Shrine (Paggunita Sa Capas) in Barangay Navy Barangay Cristo Rey, Capas, Tarlac[2], an obelisk with a central bell, which was built and is maintained by the Philippine government as a memorial to the Filipino and American soldiers who died in Camp O'Donnell [3] [4]Coordinates: 15°21'1"N 120°27'34"E at Barangay Aranguren. during the end of the Bataan Death March.[5] The Philippines was built by the Philippine government as a memorial to the Filipino and American soldiers who died in Camp O'Donnell at the end of the Bataan Death March. This is an important site related to Veterans' Day in the Philippines (Araw ng Kagitingan), every 9 April, the anniversary of the surrender of the combined US and Philippine forces to the Japanese in 1942. The area around where the Bataan Death March ended was proclaimed by President Corazon Aquino to become Capas National Shrine on 7 December 1991. [6] The camp became part of the Clark Air Base Military Reservation, and then was turned over to the Philippine Government on April 9, 1982. Later Philippines President Corazon Aquino proclaimed it to become Capas National Shrine on December 7, 1991. The shrine encompasses 54 hectares of parkland where the Bataan Death March ended. 35 hectares of land have been planted with rows of trees to represent each of the deceased at the camp, and to promote environmental consciousness. A few kilometers from the shrine is the new Camp O'Donnell that is a headquarters for the modern day Philippines army. Esplanade A wide mall from the main gate, flag pole stretches to the central Obelisk area. To the east side is the replica POW Camp constructed for the 2003 dedication. To the west side is the nature park with rows of planted trees. Obelisk & Memorial Plaza Center point of the shrine that represents peace, each of the three segments of the tower represents Filipino, American and Japanese people, and massive height the desire of all those groups for world peace. It is visible from the entire Capas area. Wall of Heroes On April 9, 2003, a new memorial wall and obelisk was unveiled. A black wall surrounds the obelisk, each wall is engraved with the names of the Filipinos and Americans known to have died at this location. It includes statistics about the total numbers of prisoners, deaths and poems for peace on the three large wall segments that nearly encircle the obelisk. Replica POW Camp Constructed for the rededication in 2003, this replica camp area includes two guard towers and a prisoner's quarters building in a field to the east of the Esplanade.[7] Coordinates: 15°21'4"N 120°32'42"E[8]Capas POW National Shrine (Death March)[9] [10]Wreath Laying Ceremony at Capas National Shrine [11]Governor Yap leads Paggunita sa Capas 2013 [12] Battling Bastards of Bataan[13]The picture above is of the Camp O'Donnell Memorial Monument. The memorial was built by the organization known as "The Battling Bastards of Bataan" to honor those American men who died at Camp O'Donnell, while prisoners of the Japanese. The Cement Cross is a replica of the original cement cross built by the POWs. The monument is located in the Capas National Shrine, in Capas, Tarlac, Philippines, adjacent to the memorial for the Philippine Army dead. Camp O'Donnell was the first prison camp for the men who survived the "Death March". The picture was taken by James Litton. The "Cross" was built as a memorial to the thousands who died in that camp. It is as much a part of Bataan as the participants in that battle. The inscription on the base of the "Cross" reads "Omnia Pro Patria": All For Country. On the wall behind the "Cross" are inscribed the names of the men who died at Camp O'Donnell. The original "Cement Cross" is now on display in the National Prisoner of War Museum, at the Andersonville National Historic Site, Andersonville, GA. It was brought to this country by Bataan survivors. Capas, Tarlac[14], Capas is a first class municipality in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 125,852 people. Capas is a part of the Third Municipal district of Tarlac with Antonio "TJ" Capitulo Rodriguez Jr. as its incumbent mayor and Jeci A. Lapus as its congressman.[15]geographical location: Tarlac, Region 3, Philippines, Asia Geographical coordinates: 15° 19' 39" North, 120° 35' 27" East This place is situated in Tarlac, Region 3, Philippines, its geographical coordinates are 15° 19' 39" North, 120° 35' 27" East and its original name (with diacritics) is Capas. See Capas photos and images from satellite below, explore the aerial photographs of Capas in Philippines. Capas hotels map is available on the target page linked above.