WSMR: Bataan will go on if shutdown happens
There's a possibility a federal shutdown will take place two days before the annual Bataan Memorial Death March.
WSMR: Bataan will go on if shutdown happens There's a possibility a federal shutdown will take place two days before the annual Bataan Memorial Death March. Check out this story on lcsun-news.com: https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/2018/03/09/wsmr-bataan-death-march-2018-go-despite-government-shutdown/409261002/
Diana Alba Soular, Las Cruces Sun-News Published 12:46 p.m. MT March 9, 2018 | Updated 2:59 p.m. MT March 10, 2018
Marchers of the 2017 Bataan Memorial Death March line up by category in corrals before the start of the march. The 2017 Bataan Memorial Death March had 7209 participants, a record number for the march honoring the 75th anniversary of the actual Bataan Death March. Sunday, March 19, 2017.(Photo: Gary Mook/ Special for the Sun-News)Buy Photo
LAS CRUCES — White Sands Missile Range officials say the yearly Bataan Memorial Death March, which attracts thousands of participants, is slated to continue March 25 as planned, in spite of the possibility of a federal government shutdown two days before the event.
Col. Dave Brown, garrison commander at WSMR, said staff has done an in-depth analysis of the event and whether it could take place during a federal government shutdown. And they've concluded that it can.
"There's nothing right now that would stop us from holding the march," he said. "Even if there was a lapse in appropriations, that would not preclude us from holding the march."
The federal government is operating on a continuing resolution that expires on March 23, creating the possibility for a shutdown. The 29th yearly Bataan Memorial Death March — an up-to 26.2-mile run or walk commemorating survivors and victims of a wartime atrocity during WWII — is set for Sunday, March 25 on WSMR lands.
A bumper registration
As the sun rises over White Sands Missile Range, the 28th annual Bataan Memorial Death March started, with the 7,200 participants lining up to walk past the eight survivors of the Bataan Death March greeting them and thanking them for their service, Sunday, March 19, 2017. (Photo: Josh Bachman/Sun-News)
Some 8,400 people have registered to participate, according to Brown. Registration closed Sunday.
If the federal government were to shut down, not all employees at WSMR would be affected by it, Brown said. But there likely would be a curtailment of the workforce. Fewer personnel could mean some delays compared to past years, such as in security checks while entering the missile range, or while checking in.
"Will things take a little bit longer? Yes," he said. "It might take longer to get through the gate. It might taken longer to get your food."
Brown encouraged registered attendees to continue with plans, such as for traveling to southern New Mexico for the march, as they normally would.
A volunteer force
The 7,200 participants many active duty or retired military participated in the 26.2 mile Bataan Memorial Death March, Sunday, March 19, 2017. Many of the participants said that as they walked the course they thought of the soldiers who had to make the Bataan Death March in 1942 to keep themselves motivated through the course. (Photo: Josh Bachman/Sun-News)
Brown said the event is hosted by a WSMR division whose employees, for the most part, aren't subject to the furloughs that would take place with a shutdown. In addition, the event relies heavily upon volunteers, such as community members who pass out drinks to march participants along the route. The state of New Mexico, too, contributes specialty units, like the New Mexico Disaster Medical Assistance Team, which uses the event as a chance to practice providing care in the field.
"What people don't realize is that most of the support we get in Bataan is actually volunteers," he said.
Though registration for the march has closed, it's not too late to sign up as a volunteer, WSMR officials said. Residents interested in doing so can visit bataanmarch.com.
Avoiding a shutdown
Over 7,000 people participated in the Batann Memorial Death March, Sunday, March 19, 2017 at White Sands Missile Range. This years memorial march marked the 28th annual Bataan Memorial Death March and 75 years since American and Filipino armed service members surrendered to Japanese forces while defending the Philippine Islands during World War II. (Photo: Josh Bachman/Sun-News)
The government was shut down for a weekend in January and had a close call in February. Both times, Congress extended funding for a matter of weeks. The next deadline is March 23.
Jennifer Talhelm, spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., said he does not expect there to be a shutdown/
"Sen. Udall is optimistic that full-year appropriations for FY18 will be finalized before March 23 and there will not be a government shutdown," she said Thursday.
Keeley Christensen, spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., said the congressman is aware of the proximity of the Bataan Memorial Death March to the shutdown deadline, and his office has been in communication with WSMR on the matter.
MORE: Largest Bataan Memorial Death March brings in 27,500 pounds of food
"However, the congressman is hopeful that it does not get to that point and that Congress can do its job to fund the government," she said.
Every year, WSMR makes an ongoing safety assessment about hosting the Bataan Memorial Death March, Brown said. In the event of an extreme occurrence, such as a tornado threat or another security risk, the march could be called off. But that wouldn't be done lightly.
"It would have to be something really significant that would stop us from holding the event," he said.
Diana Alba Soular may be reached at 575-541-5443, dalba@lcsun-news.com or @AlbaSoular on Twitter.
Read or Share this story: https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/2018/03/09/wsmr-bataan-death-march-2018-go-despite-government-shutdown/409261002/
Border Patrol K9 bites Las Cruces woman
Torres Small to host town halls next week
Pair of bobcats spotted near Sonoma Ranch
You can be part of the Las Cruces Utilities team