Memorial activities have been held across China over recent days to commemorate the 87th anniversary of the beginning of China's whole-nation resistance in the Anti-Japanese War (1931-1945).
On July 7, 1937, Japanese soldiers attacked Chinese forces at the Lugou Bridge in the southwestern suburbs of Beijing. The incident is recognized as the start of Japan's full-scale invasion of China and China's whole-nation resistance against the Japanese aggressor troops.
A former brigade of the 71st Group Army participated in the Anti-Japanese War, also known as the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and there were 3,852 revolutionary martyrs and 69 war heroes in the brigade.
"We educate and guide the officers and men to follow in the footprints of heroes and martyrs, so as to constantly devote themselves to improving military training and combat readiness with higher standards, stricter requirements and a higher morale," said Lieutenant Wang Kai with the 71st Group Army.
In the provinces of Sichuan, Shandong, Jilin and Anhui, among others, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) officers and soldiers, local officials and members of the general public were organized to visit memorials of the war.
"We carry out commemorative activities to educate all militiamen to remember history and the national humiliation, stand firm in their ideals and convictions, stay true to their missions and responsibilities, and contribute their own strength to the cause of national defense mobilization," said Colonel Zhang Zhenqi with the People's Armed Forces Department (PAFD) of Dongming County, east China's Shandong Province.
"We must pass on the heroic revolutionary spirit, strive to serve the country, work hard on ordinary posts, and pay tribute to the veteran revolutionaries with outstanding achievements," said Yu Chao, a young CPC member in Tianchang City, east China's Anhui Province.
The Provincial Corps of China's People's Armed Police Force (PAPF) in central China's Henan Province held a commemorative activity for new recruits to provide them with patriotic education by learning the deeds of heroes, taking the military oath and watching patriotic documentaries.
"We hope that through such a ceremony and a baptism, the great spirit of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression will be transformed into practical actions in training the soldiers and preparing for war, in efforts to make due contributions to strengthening the army and building up the army," said Senior Colonel Jiang Zhengqi with Henan Provincial Corps of the PAPF.
Memorial activities held across China to mark nation's success in Anti-Japanese War
