Heroes who are dedicated to serving the country return home – written on the occasion of the return of the remains of the tenth batch of Chinese People’s Volunteer Army martyrs in South Korea – Xinhuanet

Xinhua News Agency, Shenyang, November 23 Title: Heroes who are dedicated to serving the country return home – written on the occasion of the return of the remains of the tenth batch of Chinese People’s Volunteer Army martyrs in South Korea

Xinhua News Agency reporter

At about 11:32 on November 23, a Chinese Air Force Y-20 transport plane carrying the remains of 25 volunteer martyrs landed at Shenyang Taoxian International Airport. The tenth batch of remains of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army martyrs in South Korea have returned to the embrace of the motherland.

He left as a young man and returned as a hero. Since 2014, my country has welcomed back 10 batches of 938 remains of volunteer army martyrs in South Korea for 10 consecutive years, and has found relatives for 10 of the martyrs.

The loyal soul returns to the homeland, and the majestic spirit remains in the world. The motherland has never been forgotten and the people will always remember it!

　　On November 23, two J-20 aircraft of the Air Force escorted the Y-20 special plane escorting the remains of martyrs back to China.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Pan Yulong

　　The mountains and rivers are safe, welcome the heroes

When the special plane carrying the remains of the volunteer martyrs entered Chinese airspace, the captain Lu Zhonghua started an in-cabin broadcast into the microphone: Today, I am back home, let the heroes take a good look at our beautiful and peaceful motherland!

A banner reading “We will take you home” hangs at the rear of the cabin.

After the special plane landed, two escorting J-20 fighter jets flew through the field at ultra-low altitude to pay the highest respect to the heroes. The tarmac was solemn and solemn, with more than 50 soldiers of honor and armed guards standing tall and solemn. The special plane slowly passed through the “Water Gate” representing the highest courtesy and parked steadily on the tarmac.

At about 12:10, the soldiers of honor slowly walked off the special plane holding the coffin of the martyrs. At this moment, the coffins of the heroes finally set foot on the soil of the motherland.

“Carry the coffin!” As the bugler played the melodious “Mission”, the soldiers escorted the coffins of the 25 volunteer martyrs and gently placed them on the military vehicle. After the ceremony, escorted by 45 police motorcycles, the convoy sent the returning heroes to the Shenyang Cemetery for the Martyrs of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, 30 kilometers away.

On that day, the temperature in Shenyang dropped sharply and snowflakes began to fall in the sky. Many citizens braved the severe cold and stood on both sides of the road, quietly waiting for the arrival of the motorcade.

Jiang Jianyuan, a soldier from a brigade of the Army in the Northern Theater Command, assumed the task of guiding the convoy for the first time this year. “Looking at the crowds of people waiting on both sides of the road holding national flags, I was so excited that tears filled my eyes.” He said that at this moment, he deeply understood why the volunteer soldiers were called “the cutest people.”

In the center of the sunken memorial square of the Shenyang Cemetery for the Martyrs of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, a themed sculpture that symbolizes mountains of heroes and prays for peace stands quietly; the names of more than 190,000 martyrs of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea are engraved on the more than 100-meter-long wall of famous names.

On the morning of the 24th, the remains of these 25 volunteer martyrs will be buried here.

　　On November 23, at Shenyang Taoxian International Airport, soldiers of honor escorted the coffins containing the remains of volunteer army martyrs from the special plane to the coffin display area.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Pan Yulong

　　In the name of the country, remember the heroes

Brave and high-spirited, crossing the Yalu River… More than 70 years ago, in the great War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, more than 190,000 good Chinese sons and daughters sacrificed their precious lives for the motherland, the people, and peace.

From 2014 to 2023, the remains of 938 volunteer army martyrs in South Korea returned to the motherland. These martyrs died during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea and were buried south of the Military Demarcation Line on the Korean Peninsula. According to the consensus reached by China and South Korea, the two sides will conduct a regular handover of the remains of volunteer martyrs in South Korea once a year.

In order to welcome home the heroes who have been buried in foreign lands, the country holds a grand ceremony every time. When the plane escorting the remains of the volunteer martyrs entered Chinese airspace, two fighter planes took off to accompany the aircraft and escort them to pay high respect to the volunteer martyrs.

Every year on the eve of the return of heroes, the words “Heroes Go Home” and “In Memory of the Heroes” will be scrolled on the outdoor large screens, building lighting facilities and electronic screens on the roofs of taxis in the main streets of Shenyang… little bits of red illuminate the entire city. The city also illuminates the hero’s way home.

Zhang Rongen, the younger brother of volunteer martyr Zhang Rongxiang, has visited the cemetery many times to welcome the heroes home. “Seeing them is like seeing my brother.” 95-year-old Zhang Rongen said, “Every time I come to the cemetery, I have to wipe my brother’s name on the wall of famous names and tell him that your comrades are back, the motherland and the people I haven’t forgotten you.”

Since 2014, Zhang Guoying, a soldier from a brigade of the Army in the Northern Theater Command, has performed 10 consecutive missions to receive the remains of volunteer martyrs.

“When I held the coffin of the Volunteer Army martyrs in my arms, it felt as heavy as a mountain.” Zhang Guoying said, “I suddenly thought of the Battle of Changjin Lake in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, and the story of the Volunteer Army’s Ice Sculpture Company.” At this point, his eyes turned red, “I don’t know the name of the martyr, but he might have been as young as me when he died.”

To make the unknown “famous” and to allow heroes and relatives to “recognize each other” is not only the wish of the martyrs’ families, but also affects the hearts of the people across the country.

Among the more than 9,200 relics returned by the first nine batches of martyrs, in addition to rusty pens and enamel cups with the words “Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, Defend the Home and the Country”, there are also multiple clearly identifiable seals with the names of the martyrs engraved on them. name.

Since 2019, the Department of Veterans Affairs and other departments have launched activities to help martyrs find their relatives. At present, relatives of 10 martyrs have been successfully found.

Martyr Zhan Zhizhong is one of the seventh batch of volunteer martyrs in South Korea to return home in 2020. In 2021, his son Zhan Chaoming was found through DNA comparison.

“I am so lucky. I have been looking forward to my father for decades and finally found him.” 80-year-old Zhan Chaoming burst into tears. “The country has not forgotten, and the people have not forgotten. I hope more and more martyrs can find their relatives.”

　　On November 23, the remains of volunteer martyrs arrived at the Shenyang Cemetery of Martyrs to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Long Lei

　　The hero is immortal and the spirit lasts

In the exhibition hall of the Shenyang Memorial Hall for the Martyrs of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, there are several special exhibition boxes, which contain the relics that returned to the country along with the remains of the volunteer soldiers in Korea. A name badge, a button, and a small round mirror that has lost its luster are all the relics left by volunteer martyr Xu Yuzhong on the battlefield. People today have no way of knowing what happened in the last moments of his life, but through the relics, they can travel through time and space and perceive the hero’s power.

Wu Tao, director of the Shenyang Cemetery Management Center for the Martyrs of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, said that behind a relic is a ray of loyalty and a heavy yearning. The soldiers of the volunteer army were not afraid of life and death and fought bloody battles to the end, because behind them were their beloved motherland, hometown and relatives.

The Chinese people have never forgotten the war that took place more than 70 years ago. In Dandong, the Memorial Hall to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea has received an average of over 10,000 visitors per day recently; “pay tribute to the loveliest people”, “remember history and cherish peace”, “the mountains and rivers are safe, and the home and country are peaceful”… More people left messages online to express their respect for the martyrs. and cherish peace.

“The officers and soldiers of the volunteer army always stand up at critical moments when the motherland needs it most, and are fearless in the face of the test of life and death. They are worthy of the title of ‘the most lovable people’.” said Liu Jingyuan, director of the Memorial Hall to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea.

The martyrs should look back with a smile and take comfort in the fact that there are descendants who will carry the flag.

“The great spirit of resisting U.S. aggression and aiding Korea inspires our young people in the new era to march forward bravely on the new journey of building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation.” said Zhang Fan, a college student who came to lay flowers and pay tribute at the Cemetery of the Martyrs of Resisting U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea in Shenyang.

Li Qingze, who was born in the 2000s, is an interpreter at the Shenyang Cemetery for the Martyrs of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. He said: “The martyrs have dedicated everything to the motherland and the people, and they are worth remembering forever. This is my first year of work, and I must work hard to speak well. The stories of the martyrs allow people to remember this period of history forever.” (Reporters Xu Yang, Wang Bingkun, Li Xiaoming, Zhao Hongnan, Ding Feibai)

【Error correction】

[Editor in charge: Xu Haizhi]