Air Force Senior Airman Peter J. LeBlanc of Windham participated in the 16th annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

More than 3,500 military and civilian marchers from across the United States and several foreign countries participated in the grueling 26.2-mile event.

Marchers traveled through the high desert terrain of the White Sands Missile Range to complete the marathon-length event to honor Bataan veterans and survivors. Participants trekked over pavement, dusty and rocky trails, and deep sand pits at elevation variances of 4,100 to 5,300 feet. Some of the marchers entered the “heavy” category, which required them to tote a 35-pound rucksack.

The annual march commemorates the infamous World War II Death March from the Bataan Peninsula, the Philippines, in April, 1942 after the invasion of the Philippine Islands by Japanese armed forces. The march recognizes the suffering, sacrifice, courage and perseverance of the U.S. and Filipino service members who fought so gallantly defending the Philippine Islands.

Tens of thousands died during the forced march on their way to Japanese prison camps. LeBlanc, a munitions systems journeyman, is assigned to the 355th Equipment Maintenance Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Ariz. He has eight years of military service.

He is the son of Paulette Pelletier of Windham. The senior airman is a 1998 graduate of Westbrook High School.

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