Sirens wailed, and a bell tolled at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, Liaoning province, on Thursday to commemorate the 94th anniversary of the September 18 Incident, which marked the beginning of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).
At 9:17 am, bell ringers struck the "warning bell" 14 times to honor the 14 years of war. One minute later, air-raid sirens sounded throughout Shenyang as a reminder to never forget this chapter in history. The city has observed this tradition for 31 years.
Li Weibo, a veteran of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army who attended the ceremony, stressed the importance of remembrance. "This ceremony reminds us never to forget our past," he said. "We hope today's young generation will carry forward the spirit of our martyrs and dedicate themselves to our nation's modernization."
Sun Fei, one of the bell ringers, expressed his sense of responsibility: "I am honored to participate in this ceremony. At AVIC Shenyang Aircraft Company, our mission is to build aircraft to protect our nation's skies. I will carry the spirit of today back to our workshop, where we continue to honor our fallen heroes through our work."
Hao Peng, secretary of the Liaoning Provincial Party Committee, called for carrying forward the spirit of patriotism and resisting aggression to contribute to national rejuvenation. "The best remembrance is inheritance, and the highest tribute is progress," he said.
If you have any problems with this article, please contact us at app@chinadaily.com.cn and we'll immediately get back to you.
