Nanjing, Jiangsu province, was the focal point of a national ceremony commemorating the 300,000 victims of the Nanjing Massacre on Wednesday, the 86th anniversary of the start of the murderous rampage by invading Japanese troops in 1937.
At 8 am, the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders conducted a flag-raising and half-masting ceremony in honor of the victims. At 10:01 am, sirens were heard above the city. Vehicles halted and people on the streets observed a moment of silence.
In the square with the memorial hall, representative citizens struck the Bell of Peace, and white doves were released into the sky. People from many walks of life, dressed in somber, dark attire, looked on.
“The history of 300000 compatriots in Nanjing being brutally killed by the invading Japanese army is an undeniable fact. Today, when we participate in the National Memorial Day for the Nanjing Massacre Victims, we must remember history, not forget national shame, and at the same time make people around the world aware of the cruelty of aggressive wars, so as to oppose war, cherish peace, and jointly defend human dignity. Only in this way can we avoid the recurrence of war tragedies, maintain peace, and create a better future for humanity”, said Gao Zaishu, a veteran of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.
Descendants of international friends who saved countless lives in Nanjing, as well as representatives of overseas friendly groups and members of civil society associations joined at the ceremony to mourn the deceased and expressed their hope for peace.
“I have come to Nanjing again to attend the national memorial day ceremony, and I want to express my condolences to the victims of the Nanjing Massacre once again. Remembering the history of the Nanjing Massacre, moving towards the future and peace, is not only what I want to say to the Chinese people, but also what I want to say to the Japanese people”, said Tamaki Matsuoka, a Japanese peace activist.
At the national memorial day ceremony, 86 student representatives dressed in plain clothes from Nanjing loudly recited the "Declaration of Peace", a poem that transcends time and space, firmly and powerfully expressing their desire to cherish peace and revitalize China.
“Today we are holding this ceremony not to remember the hatred of the past, but to better cherish peace. I hope that as a young person, I can contribute my own strength to the prosperity of our country in the future, and I also hope that young people can contribute their enthusiasm to the path of national prosperity”, said Lu Hanlei, a student of Zhonghua Middle School.
At the national memorial day ceremony, six representatives from various sectors of society jointly struck the "Peace Bell".
The deep and solemn sound of bells echoed over the memorial hall for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre by the Japanese invaders, reminding the Chinese people for a long time. The best commemoration is to move forward towards the truth we all firmly believe in.
“As a representative of new farmers, striking the bell of peace reminded me not to forget national shame, share the destiny with the country, lead more new farmers to root in the front line of agriculture, and become a new era new farmer who knows, loves, serves, and promotes agriculture”, said Wei Qiao, Deputy to 14th National People's Congress and chief expert of Jiangsu Runguo Agricultural Development Co., Ltd.
“Striking the bell of peace deeply symbolizes not forgetting history, cherishing peace, and never letting the tragedy of history repeat itself. I will continue to work hard to collect relevant information and let more people understand this period of history”, said Lu Zhaoning, a Chinese American.
“Today, I deeply feel the strength of my motherland and feel a strong sense of pride in living in today's China. We must inherit the legacy of our predecessors, take the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China as a guide, adhere to the principle of putting the people first and life first, serve the public with benevolence and skill, and contribute our own strength to the construction of a healthy China”, said Lu Jianlin, Vice Dean of Suzhou Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University School of Medicine.
“As a technology entrepreneur, I deeply feel the hard-won importance of a peaceful development environment and the strength of our country. We must keep our mission in mind and take a down-to-earth path towards technological self-reliance”, said Guo Hongxin, Secretary of the Party Committee of Zhongsheng Group.
