"As part of the events commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Bataan Death March, the New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department dedicated U.S. Highway 70, from Las Cruces to Alamogordo, as the Bataan Memorial Highway.  The dedication ceremony was held on the westbound frontage road of U.S.70,  just west of Del Rey Blvd. 
Bataan survivors unveiled a 'Bataan Memorial Highway' sign that is now permanently placed a long the roadway. 
     The designation was the brainchild of RT. U.S. Air Force Col. Len Sugerman of Las Cruces, who suggested it as part of the "Name That Interchange" contest, sponsored by Parsons Brinckerhoff for the Interchange at Interstate 25 and U.S. 70. 
     State Rep. William "Ed" Boykin, R-Las Cruces, authored and sponsored legislation that was introduced into the 2001 New Mexico Legislature, where it was unanimously passed by state's elected leaders.  The Highway Commission gave it’s endorsement of the legislation earlier this year."