BEGINNINGS OF THE "PATRIOT'S PROJECT"

In May of 2002, 6th grade students at Whitman Elementary were hearing, for the first time, the story of the heroic fight for Bataan and Corregidor in the Philippines.

Their librarian had been conducting extensive research, as part of a Mentoring Program between the Lewiston Police Department and her students. The research was for information on the war years of Camp Fukuoka 17 POW Wayne Petrie, the father of one of the police officers involved in the mentoring program. The result was the discovery of an area of history so neglected that it is almost to the point of being criminal. Adding injury to this obscurity was the neglect of the men of Bataan and Corregidor who fought so bravely to hold off the Japanese Imperial Army for almost  5 months.

It was through this "unveiling of truths" that their librarian knew the stories from these heroes and the neglected truth had to be told.       This web site is a result of that desire. 
I am no longer with the school district and the students, all who volunteered their time, are now busy with high school, but still stay in contact with me regarding the project. I now work at our City Library where I can spread the word even more as well as give outreach presentations to area schools.

My goal for this website is to give both honor and tribute to these men, and to present in truth, a part of this neglected area of World War II history. I also hope that this site will give these veterans a chance to reach out and reconnect with lost friends as well as provide information and answers not only these men, but their families and friends as well.

We are grateful for any stories, information and input our "site guests" can provide. 

Fukuoka 17 Web Masters
                                                                                  Photo 2002

Although several students worked on the research, this is the core of the group, along with their librarian, who have followed it through and remained dedicated "patriots" from it's beginnings.

To our many new veteran friends and those who did not make it back from the war,
we thank you for what you did to allow us to have this flag we so proudly stand by.

 

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