Cleaning and Memorializing National Heroes: A Day of Remembrance and Inspiration in China

One such story comes from Xizang, where 30 border guards have made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives in defense of their country. Every year, during the Cleaning and Memorializing National Heroes event, soldiers from the "Motuo Frontline Model Camp" visit the heroes' martyrs park to pay their respects and draw inspiration from their bravery. In another heartwarming story, a 80-year-old veteran from Qingdao, Shandong, named Dai Xiuguo, has been tending to the graves of two unnamed heroes who died during the War of Liberation for 64 years. He visits their graves on Chinese New Year, Cleaning and Memorializing National Heroes Day, and Army Day, continuing a tradition he started when he was just a teenager. Student groups across China are also participating in the Cleaning and Memorializing National Heroes event. For example, a high school in Ningbo, Zhejiang, has been organizing a 25-kilometer hike to the gravesite of the first communist party member in Pofu, Zhejiang, for 31 consecutive years. This year, the school brought even more students to pay their respects, emphasizing the importance of remembering the sacrifices made by their forebears. The Cleaning and Memorializing National Heroes event has also brought attention to the sacrifices made by police officers in China.
According to Xinhua, since the establishment of the People's Republic of China, 17,526 police officers have died in the line of duty. This Cleaning and Memorializing National Heroes Day, letters of condolence and appreciation were sent to the families of these officers, acknowledging their sacrifices and pledging to continue their work. The Cleaning and Memorializing National Heroes event is not just about cleaning and memorializing the graves of heroes, but also about remembering their stories and continuing their legacy. As the poet Du Mu wrote, "清明时节雨纷纷，路上行人欲断魂。借问酒家何处有，儿音运指查花村。" (On a Cleaning and Memorializing National Heroes Day, the rain falls in sheets, and travelers trudge along the road, their spirits breaking.
I ask, where can I find an inn to rest and warm myself? A child's voice directs me to the flower village.) This Cleaning and Memorializing National Heroes Day, let us remember the sacrifices of those who came before us, and let us continue to honor their legacy by working towards a brighter future.