U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Roger F. Mathews (left), deputy

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Roger F. Mathews (left), deputy commanding general of U.S. Army, Pacific, and Brig. Gen. Alan R. Luga, commander of 7th Infantry Division, accompany wreaths for placement at a memorial site, April 24, to commemorate the U.S. and Filipino service members who were jailed in the Cabanatuan Prisoner of War camp, Cabanatuan City, nearly 70 years ago. The commemoration took place during Balikatan 2012 and is a reflection of the enduring friendship shared between the U.S. military and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Balikatan is an annual training event aimed at improving combined planning, combat readiness, humanitarian assistance and interoperability between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and United States military focusing on field training, humanitarian assistance and a command post exercise.