Port Clinton students remember Bataan soldiers

PORT CLINTON — It's a sacrifice Port Clinton students should never forget.Bataan Memorial Elementary and Intermediate students honored the sacrifice of those who died in World War II during its annual Bataan Day ceremony on Friday. The ceremony normally occurs in November but was moved to May due to school delays and closings.The schools, in addition to the former Bataan Elementary built in 1957, are named in memory of 32 men from Port Clinton who fought in the Battle of Bataan as the 192nd Tank Battalion's C Company. The group was deployed to the Philippines in 1941.Bill Lowe, Port Clinton Schools' transportation director who served in the Navy, tells students about his experiences during Friday's Bataan Day ceremony May 24, 2019. The C Company, among thousands of other soldiers, was captured by the Japanese Army in 1942. As prisoners of war, they were forced to walk in the grueling Bataan Death March to a camp 60 miles away. Most didn't survive. Those who did remained captive for three years."They were ordinary people who rose up to an extraordinary cause in extreme ways," intermediate school principal Geoff Halsey said.Guest speaker Bill Lowe, Port Clinton Schools' transportation director, talked about his days in the Navy, where he spent time training pilots in survival skills.Fifth-grade students tell the story of Port Clinton's Bataan soldiers during the annual Bataan Day ceremony Friday. "Serving in the Navy is the best thing I've ever done, besides working at Port Clinton Schools," he said. "It's an honor to be in a building that honors those heroes. It's a big deal to serve with close friends and see them captured and tortured."Halsey reminded students to remember why they don't have school on Monday."These are people who thought of others before themselves," Halsey said. "This Memorial Day, please take time to consider those who died in sacrifice."Bataan Intermediate students perform in the handbell choir during the Bataan Day ceremony Friday. Bataan Day participants• Fifth-grade speakers: Abigail Johnson, Indyca Bonnel, Makenzie Collins, Alex Hill, Kai Weit, Olivia Armenta, Larin Brown, Zach Speer and Aiden Laughlin.A Bataan student presents a pinwheel representing a Port Clinton soldier from World War II to Bataan Primary principal Kendra Van Doren during the annual Bataan Day ceremony Friday. • Patriotic pinwheel presenters: Isabella Adkins, Neveah Arnold, Logan Marvicsin, Delana Toris, Reese Wilson, Avery Bacak, Griffin Miller, Noah Rickey, Erik Glaze, Chloe Sartin, Caylee Corona, Nacelle Fritz, Cain Orosco, Matthew Morgan, Evan Neff, Alivia McFadden, Jaybreanna Tracey, Payton Hale, Ariana McCleese, Carson Candage, Brynnlee Siefke, Kendyll Hartlaub, Jackson Araguz, Dalton Dible, Noah Solis, Brianna Pollard, Alexys Clouser, Nick Hanes, Preston Lowe, Amaya Reno, James Crawford, Summer Shelby and Manny Rios• All students sang "All American Me and You" and the intermediate school handbell choir performed.Bataan Primary and Intermediate students sing "All American Me and You" during the annual Bataan Day ceremony Friday. Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook.com/CaitliNearhoodBataan Primary and Intermediate students listen to student speakers during the Bataan Day ceremony Friday.