The 83rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor that brought the United States into WWII. was commemorated with a Norwegian Foot March at Barksdale Air Force Base Saturday, December 14.  The event was hosted by the US Army Recruiting Unit for our area with the assistance of Airmen from Barksdale who volunteered their services to assist with the march.

There were over 200 marchers from units in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi, LSU’s ROTC programs, and Barksdale Air Force Base. The NSU Army ROTC Demon Battalion sent eight cadets to the march. The NSU Army cadets were Kyra Cole, Colton Wood, Jacob Mullican, Eric Cao, Caiden Matthews, Grace Kerney, Mia Cole and Layla Theriot.

The Natchitoches contingent was rounded out by Air Force veteran and NPJ writer Kevin Shannahan and retired Army colonel and parish council district 5 member Mark Kerry. At 62 and 65, they were the oldest marchers at the event. 

The Norwegian Foot March began in 1915 as a way for the Norwegian Army to increase their readiness for WWI. The march is over a 30 kilometer (18.6 mile) course and must be completed in duty uniform and carrying a 25 lb. rucksack. It is by no means an easy event! To give an idea of the march’s difficulty, a 60+ year old man has only 5 hours and 15 minutes to complete the march. The event has increased in popularity over the years and marches are held in every NATO country. Persons completing the Norwegian Foot March earn the Marsjmerket badge which is awarded in bronze, silver, and gold, depending on the number of times the individual completes the Foot March.

Spending an evening with your brothers and sisters doing something difficult and worthwhile was indeed a fitting way to commemorate the servicemembers who perished in the attack on Pearl Harbor and the ultimate victory over Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany four years later.